Copy That (Maurice McKendry) blazes clear to win by four lengths at Alexandra Park tonight. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images
Maurice big on Lincoln Farms’ star: Copy That sprinted so fast ‘he dug holes in the track’
By Barry Lichter • 29 July 2020
Top driver Maurice McKendry paid Copy That the ultimate compliment after he demolished his rivals with a front-running win at Alexandra Park tonight.
Asked after the race whether Copy That was as good as Lincoln Farms’ former Auckland Cup winner Sir Lincoln, McKendry replied: “Up until tonight I thought, no, but he just might be.
“When I pulled the plugs and yelled at him at the 200 he dug holes in the track,” said McKendry of the exceptional speed the horse showed.
Maurice McKendry brings Copy That back after his terrific return to form.“Only those really good ones can go zip like that.”
McKendry is well qualified to assess the relative merits of both pacers - he teamed with Sir Lincoln in 53 of his 57 starts when he won 21 races and $663,000.
Sir Lincoln was one of the fastest horses of his time, just nosed out of the 2012 Golden Mile at Menangle in Sydney by Captain Joy in 1:51.4.
Copy That didn’t have to go anywhere near as fast tonight, allowed to dawdle along in front with an opening half of 64.3, but he ripped home in 55.8 and 26.1 to put an ever increasing late four length space on the All Stars’ Smooth Deal.
“He loved it out there tonight,” said McKendry.
“He was really good out of the gate and that was just perfect for his first run back.”
Trainer Ray Green fields a call from owner Merv Butterworth in the winners’ circle.Trainer Ray Green, who fielded a call from excited Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth almost as soon as the horse crossed the line, said: “Once he led it was good night nurse, he just had too much gas for them. It was a fait accompli.
“He was clearly the best horse out there. We all know what he can do but he won’t even be at his peak for another couple of runs.”
Green will aim Copy That at September’s Spring Cup, which Sir Lincoln won in 2012, by which time he says the Barry Purdon contingent will be “on stream” and provide better competition.
“I’ll put in a nomination for the New Zealand Cup. I think he’ll be a serious contender.
“He came back in tonight and you wouldn’t even have known he’d had a run.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Angelic Copy
4.53pm
“She’s done everything right and trialled really nicely. I think she’s forward enough to give some cheek. She’s only small. You like to think when you get a good two-year-old like her that they’ll get stronger and transition into a nice three-year-old but she hasn’t grown an inch. But she tries hard and enjoys being out there.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.28pm
“I’m looking forward to seeing him. You never really know ’til you get to the races but he’s trialled well enough to start and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went a good race, despite the draw. He’s a nice sensible colt who’s done nothing wrong and he could develop into a really nice three-year-old.”
Race 6: Lincoln Wave
7.22pm
“He was starting to get into the habit of switching off so we trained him in blinds this week and he went pretty well. He was good from a standing start at the trials with shorteners in and Maurice was actually quite bullish about his standing start manners and thinks that, in time, he’ll end up being a quick beginner. If he steps well, and can land in the first one or two, he’ll definitely be hard to get round.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm
“He’s not spectacular from a stand but he will get away, albeit sometimes a bit slowly. Lincoln Wave has more speed than him but if it comes down to a slugfest he’d be too strong as he’s rock hard fit.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“The blinds go back on this week and if he steps and leads like he did three starts ago that would make him the one to beat. He showed with that win that he’s above average and will be a serious chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.23pm
“You could argue she’s a Cambridge horse but sometimes when you throw them in with the bear cats they lift their game and I thought she was really good here last week. Tony (Cameron) said she’d have finished a bit closer too if he hadn’t had to take hold of her close to home (when he ran out of room and hit a marker pole).”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.23pm
“We’ve got blinds on him this week. Harry said he lost concentration a couple of times last week, including at the top of the straight, and thought he’d be a bit more on to it with blinds on. I still thought his was the run of the race last time - none of the others could have done what he did - and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.”
