Ray Green with Copy That after his Vero Flying Stakes demolition at Addington last week. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.
Derby dream over, Ray scrambles to get himself and Copy That home before lockdown
By Barry Lichter • 23 March 2020
As Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green works to get himself and Copy That home from Christchurch before the Covid-19 lockdown takes effect he is philosophical about missing out on the chance to win the New Zealand Derby.
“It’s just my luck that I’ve got the favourite for the Derby and they can the race but we’ve just got to take it on the chin and move on.”
Copy That shot to clear $2.50 favouritism for Friday week’s $200,000 New Zealand Derby after he mauled his opposition in last week’s Vero Flying Stakes at Addington.
But instead of putting the finishing touches to the country’s benchmark three-year-old, and talented two-year-old Platinum Stride, Green is now scrambling to get them back to Pukekohe.
“I’ve got them booked to come home tomorrow, on the priority list, but not even Majestic know if they’ll be able to still operate.
Blair Orange brings Copy That back to scale. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.“The Government hasn’t given us much time but if the horses can’t travel we’ll have to make other arrangements - hopefully Ken Barron and Blair Orange will be able to look after them down here.”
Green himself can’t get home until Thursday.
“I couldn’t get a flight before then - there’s only one a day. But if they let people repatriate from overseas surely they won’t stop me from going to the North Island?”
Green, 74, who says he’s never been much good at swimming, thinks its surreal how just a few hours earlier he was making arrangements for Copy That on race night, after Harness Racing New Zealand banned anyone over 70 from going to the track.
“And now we’re talking about all racing behind stopped. But the Government is doing the right thing. They have to control the virus and stamp it out.
“Australia looks to be in deep trouble. It’s got a foot-hold over there and they have a huge population compared with us.”
Green says while racing is still going ahead in Australia, there’s no chance Copy That can get there to claim the big three-year-old purses.
When the horse’s owner Merv Butterworth tried to book stablemate Bettor My Dreamz on a plane across the Tasman, he was told the earliest flight was likely to be in July.
“I don’t think we’re talking weeks with this lockdown, I could see it being months.”
* Franklin Park, adjacent to Lincoln Farms, has been shut down immediately so no horses can be trained on the track until further notice.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
