Kango is rattling home but Copy That (Maurice McKendry) has the City Of Auckland Free-for-all sewn up. PHOTO: Megan Liefting.
Maurice set for bonus drives on Copy That after the Pukekohe pony delivers again
By Barry Lichter • 5 March 2021
Top driver Maurice McKendry is expected to retain the drive behind eftpos machine Copy That when he treks south for his next assignments in a few weeks.
McKendry teamed with Lincoln Farms’ star at Alexandra Park tonight for his 17th win, telling trainer Ray Green the horse bagged the $45,600 City Of Auckland Free-for-all quite easily despite having to work hard to find the front.
Under normal circumstances McKendry would have vacated the seat behind Copy That when he trekked to the South Island where owner Merv Butterworth favours using the country’s leading driver Blair Orange.
But Orange is under suspension for failing an alcohol test before the start of the races at Motukarara on January 24 and cannot drive again until after April 5.
Copy That’s next target is two days before that, April 3, the Group I $100,000 Breckon Farms/All Stars Racing Easter Cup (3200m) at Addington.
And Green says it’s likely he’ll give the horse a lead-up race a week earlier at Addington in the Group III $30,000 Teltrac Free-for-all (mobile 1980m) on March 26.
“We’ll be having a look at that race in the next few days - we’ve got a bit of time up our sleeve - but I’d say he’ll run. It would be a big ask to have a month in between runs before a 3200 metre race.”
Merv Butterworth … more relieved than excited.Green admitted that both he and Butterworth were more relieved than excited after Copy That’s latest win, the eighth time McKendry has saluted on the horse.
“A lot is expected of the horse now and even though he stood over them on paper, you wonder if for some weird reason he won’t deliver. So it was more a relief when he got the job done.”
Copy That was forced to work overtime early, when caught three wide round the first bend, but McKendry pressed forward to find the front by the end of the back straight.
“He had to pay his dues to get the lead but he got away with murder in the middle stages and it was very clinical after that,” Green said.
The expected home stretch challenge from second favourite Christianshavtime, who was left parked, was short lived and it was left to the improving Cambridge pacer Kango to run Copy That to one and a quarter lengths.
Copy That’s winning time was only 2:40.3, but he zipped home in 56.5 and 26.8.
The win took Copy That’s career tally to $358,629 from 33 starts.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Tyson
5.06pm
“He hung badly all the way last time without a boring pole but that will be back on this week. And we’ve taken off his overcheck. He seemed to resent that. I trained him yesterday and he went really well. I expect him to go a lot better.”
Race 1: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.06pm
“Fergie had to do an adjustment on the cart last week and the horse got fractious and just kicked out. I think he would have gone well but their policy is to scratch them if there’s any sign of blood. He’s certainly hard work but he trained well this week - he didn’t put a foot wrong and paced well.”
Race 2: The Rascal
5.46pm
“He still struggles on the corners going full out. He’s OK when they’re tootling along but when they sprint, he finds it difficult. The drivers just have to nurse him and, driven like that, he should be hard to beat.”
Race 4: Kevin Kline
6.58pm
“He never had a chance to get any money last time, when caught four back on the pegs - it was just one of those races. But he hit the line well and I’m pretty sure he’ll go well again. Mantra Blue is a good mare but she only fell in last time and she could be vulnerable from the 30 metre handicap.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
6.58pm
“He steps well and Fergie showed last time he really knows how to drive him. If he’s on the fence he doesn’t put a foot wrong, it’s only when he gets out wide that he can mix it up.”
Race 7: Lincoln Lover
8.46pm
“He’s as honest as they come but he’ll need a run or two to tighten him up. He hasn’t raced for a while and he’s a little fat guy.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.46pm
“He’s a lovely horse who been training really well and he won his recent workout in good time. He has a bit more lick than our other runner Lincoln Lover and he should go well this time in.”
