Self Assured, outer, will be Copy That’s main rival again but you can’t discount Better Eclipse, head showing, after his big Taylor Mile.
Message from Ray: Copy That can cop the Messenger no problem, he’s one tough dude
By Barry Lichter • 26 April 2023
Punters needn’t be concerned that Copy That will be having his fourth race in as many weeks at Auckland on Friday night.
Though last week’s conqueror Akuta will sit out this week’s $90,000 Messenger at Alexandra Park, trainer Ray Green says his little champ is bright and ready to go again.
“We considered missing the race but he’s pulled up so well. He could have raced the day after the Taylor Mile.
“He’s got such a natural, strong constitution, he can cop whatever you dish up to him. Nothing worries him. Some horses would curl up with the same programme but he’s very resilient.”
Green says with the $180,000 Auckland Cup not run until May 26, Copy That has plenty of time to recover, the final lead-up not until May 19 when the $45,000 Roy Purdon Memorial (2200m) is scheduled.
Green is more concerned about how he will keep Copy That in top trim after the cup, with no races scheduled here until his proposed trip to Queensland for the July winter carnival.
“I think the carnival-type scenario they’re trying to create up here isn’t very smart - where you have all the good races in the same five to six week window and then there’s nothing.
“They should spread the races over a longer period. How do you keep them up to the plate and get them built up again with no races?”
Green says he and owners Merv and Meg Butterworth won’t decide on Copy That’s exact targets in Brisbane until after the cup but it was possible he could travel over early.
The races carded include:
- June 17: The A$31,768 Lucky Creed (2680m)
- June 24: The A$106,070 Redcliffe Gold Cup (2613m)
- July 1: The A$30,160 Wondai’s Mate (1660m)
- July 8: The A$53,040 Mr Feelgood (2138m)
- July 15: The A$200,000 Sunshine Sprint (1660m) and
- July 22: The A$400,000 Blacks A Fake (2680m)
Green says he has the luxury of being to fly in whenever it suits as Copy That is not the type of horse who needs a week to get over a long trip.
“He accepts it easily. He eats everything put in front of him no matter what. He’s a lot tougher than he looks.”
Copy That will need to be tough again this week, even though several of his usual sparring partners won’t be there.
Green says he won’t miss Nicholas Cage who drained so much petrol out of Copy That in the first 400 metres of the Taylor Mile.
But that’s not to say the opening split of the longer 2700 metre Messenger won’t also be taxing with Australian Better Eclipse and Kango drawn inside him.
“Kango could blast out and we don’t want to have to wrestle the lead off him and then have the others maul us.
“Copy That can do whatever you ask him to do but he doesn’t have to lead. I wouldn’t worry if he settled in behind them somewhere. Even if he sat last he wouldn’t be far off them (in a small field).”
While Green respects Self Assured most, he is also wary of Better Eclipse who was huge last week, beaten only a nose and half a neck and clocking a sizzzling 54.2 despite racing three wide with no cover for the last lap. By comparison Copy That clocked 56.1.
More news in Harness
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34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.”
