Good trooper My Copy sold to Perth leaving Lincoln La Moose to hold the fort on Friday

My Copy has been scratched from Auckland on Friday night and will do his future racing in Western Australia.

The sale of the horse brings to a close a terrific few seasons for trainer Ray Green and his wife Debbie who bought the little brother to Copy That for just $3000 as a weanling.

While the Highview Tommy five-year-old has always lived in the shadow of the dual New Zealand Cup winner, Green said he had done a great job to win seven races and $91,748.

“He’s been a really good racehorse for us all the way through - and he’s so nice to train and drive.

“It’s a shame to have to sell him - and we didn’t get what we wanted - but now that he’s on the cusp of having to race all the good ones it’s going to be hard going for him.”

On Friday night the horse, rated only R55, would have had to compete against those with ratings of R71, R69 and R66.

“Over there they’ll be able to place him much better,” Green said.

La Moose freshened

Green says you can expect a better performance from a freshened Lincoln La Moose at Auckland on Friday night.

The three-year-old was a beaten favourite after leading at his last start on August 9, surprisingly reeled in 200 metres from home.

Green told the stewards he believed the horse was feeling the effects of recent racing.

Since resuming on July 22, the three-year-old had raced five weeks on end.

That, on top of a mid-week training run when he over-raced too much, contributed to his below par effort.

“He’s obviously better if his races are spaced and I’m expecting him to go much better this time. He should be right in it.”

Green said Lincoln La Moose’s run for eighth two starts back could also be forgiven as “he had a hell trip” after driver Zachary Butcher’s aborted attempt to wrest the lead a round from home got the horse over-racing in the death seat.

A better guide to his prospects on Friday night were his two previous starts when he finished a close third behind Semba and stablemate Lincoln Lou at Auckland and a good second to the impressive Kings Watch at Cambridge.

Green said from three on the gate, he expected Lincoln La Moose to have the wood on his last start conqueror, stablemate Obadiah Dragon, drawn on the outside.

“But I’m expecting him to be running on. He gets home well if not given too much to do early. He hasn’t gone a bad race in his last six starts.”

Tyson, though obviously improving, might find the opposition in the fifth race, too much, Green said.

“His last two starts have been excellent but there are a few more two-year-olds coming on stream now, including the Purdon pair (Confederate and I Got Chills).

“He’s also drawn awkwardly (in six) and that will make it tough for him.

“I expect him to develop into a tidy horse but he’s still green and will need a bit of luck on Friday to figure.”