On a roll: Copy That ready but will Auckland get a race off the ground for him next week?

Copy That will race at Auckland on Thursday night if a field can be carded after another powerful run at today’s Pukekohe workouts.

But Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is already making plans to fly the horse to Australia sooner than expected, and says he will be there inside a month.

In another major development, Green revealed the stable’s No. 1 three-year-old Simply Sam will also be on the flight for a tilt at the Victoria Derby.

Copy That ran in a redrawn heat of six horses over 2500 metres today, starting from the back mark of 30 metres, and was not bustled, sitting last in the running before driver Maurice McKendry pulled him out three wide 550 metres from home.

Copy That charged to the post, one and a quarter lengths, a length and half a head behind Old Town Road, Hesashorething and Nelsons Boy.

“Maurice said he was just cruising and felt marvellous,” Green said.

“They went 26.2 off the front for the last 400 and Maurice timed him to run his last 2400 metres in 3:02.”

Trainer Ray Green checks Copy That’s heart rate after his workout today.Green was delighted to see Copy That’s heart rate had dropped as low as 71 when taken in the wash bay.

“He always recovers quickly and he’s in really good shape. If they can get a race off the ground next week we’ll front up.”

The Auckland Trotting Club has programmed a 2200 metre sprint on Thursday night for rating 55 and faster pacers, with a maximum back mark of 30 metres.

Best season ahead

Green believes the season ahead will be Copy That’s best, now that he has matured so much.

“You could argue the unintended (injury) break might have done him good. He’d been up for a long time. He’s filled out and grown and is a lot stronger than he was last time in. I couldn’t be happier with him.

“Hopefully he’ll get a run here. But we have to plan for the distinct probability that there won’t be a suitable lead-up race next week, and there’s no meeting at Auckland the following week, so we’re looking to go to Aussie sooner. I’d say we’ll be there by the beginning of September.’’

Green says Copy That has six races to choose from in Australia, to fit him for the New Zealand Cup, with the first likely to be the A$100,000 Melton Sprint Classic (mobile 1720m) on September 10.

Sam for Victoria Derby

Simply Sam, who will trial next week, has lead-up races he can contest at Ballarat and Kilmore before the Victoria Derby heats on October 1 and A$200,000 Final on October 8.

“It would have been a big ask to take him to Queensland for their winter carnival. He possibly would have been competitive but it was too risky at that stage.”

Simply Sam after notching a hat-trick at Auckland at his last start on July 15. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.With more all round game now, and a hat-trick under his belt, Green said he was excited about the prospect of testing Simply Sam in Victoria.

“The plans might sound grandiose but we’re not trying to do the impossible and we’re in good shape with these two.”

Green said Lincoln Farms was at a stage where it could soon send more horses to Australia, frustrated at how little improvement is happening in the industry here.

“The way things are going, in the North Island in particular, we’ll have to start adjusting the way we do this job. We need a bigger presence in Australia before the shit really hits the fan.

Doomed

“I think we’re doomed in Auckland. Harness racing could be extinct in the north in five years. We’ve been on a slippery slope for so long and breeders have been treated like toe-rags for years.

“It’s amazed me how many people have had blinkers on and nothing’s been done. HRNZ’s been little more than an administrative organisation.”

Recently announced plans by HRNZ to introduce incentives for breeders could be too little, too late, he says.

“There’ll be an even bigger exodus of horses to Australia when we can’t get races for the good horses. Owners want good horses racing in good races.

“Copy That can race in country cups over there just about every week - the Kilmore Cup is worth $80,000 - but what have we got here? A shitty $30,000 race at Oamaru.”