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.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
