Gun pacers Copy That and Old Town Road trial in super style - and recover just as fast!
By Barry Lichter • 6 January 2023
Copy That will be joined on his flight to Melbourne on Wednesday by Old Town Road after the two horses trialled in great style at Pukekohe today.
The pair, denied a start at Cambridge on Saturday night when Harness Racing New Zealand scrubbed the $25,000 Cliff Thomas Memorial feature because only four horses entered, was given a strong workout over 2500 metres.
Taken straight to the front from gate release by Andrew Drake, Copy That set a solid tempo, with Old Town Road and Zachary Butcher hard on his tail.
Old Town Road, outer, and Copy That sprint up the home straight today.The pair went head to head down the home straight, with Old Town Road holding a neck margin at the line.
But Drake said he never put any pressure on Copy That who closed in the slick sectionals of 55.2 for the 800 and 25.6 for the 400, for an overall time of 3:11.2, a mile rate of 2:03.
“He felt good,” said Drake who will be in charge of Copy That on his Melbourne campaign.
“I clocked him over his last mile and a half in 3:04 and didn’t really do much on him up the straight, just pulled the plugs and chirped him along.
“He won’t need much more in Aussie that’s for sure. He’ll be ready.”
Copy That’s opening race will be the A$150,000 Ballarat Cup (2710m) on January 21 before his main mission, the A$500,000 Hunter Cup (2760m) at Melton on February 4.
Andrew Drake sets a solid pace on Copy That.Trainer Ray Green, overseeing the workout despite still recovering from surgery after being kicked in the stomach on November 21, said Old Town Road would be a worthy rival in both races, acknowledging the up-and-comer’s speed.
“There are a few who are just as fast as Copy That but they can’t carry their speed as far. Copy That is a unique little horse.”
One of the reasons for the horse’s rare motor was again evident after the workout when Green used his heart monitor to check Copy That’s recovery rate.
Immediately on being ungeared and entering the wash bay at Lincoln Farms’ barn, it registered 79. Barely two minutes later it had already dropped to 73.
Trainer Ray Green checks Copy That’s heart rate afterwards.Copy That’s remarkable heart rate resounded with Old Town Road’s trainer John Dickie who said he’d never trained a better winded horse than his own five-year-old.
Dickie said it wasn’t hard to make the call to go ahead with the Melbourne campaign when he saw how quickly Old Town Road recovered today after the workout.
“I was really pleased with the run and Zac said he felt awesome. The trip south for the cup and the three weeks he had off has really been beneficial for him. We think he’s a better horse now.”
Dickie acknowledged missing Saturday’s race would not help Old Town Road - “you can get away with it in a lesser grade but in Group One racing there’s nothing like race fitness.
Back in the paddock as fresh as a daisy.“I still think he’ll be more than competitive at Ballarat but strip fit for the Hunter Cup.
“He’ll come home after that as there are four Group Ones in New Zealand to go in.”
Dickie’s son Josh will look after Old Town Road in Victoria for the first week before Dickie senior flies over - “I like to be hands-on.”
Butcher will drive Old Town Road throughout his campaign.
In other heats today, Lincoln Farms’ Lincoln River led all the way to win his 2050 metre heat, with Next To Me third, and Butcher’s Zarias was too strong in his first workout of a new campaign, with My Copy third and Neptune fifth, in a tame 3:18.9.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
