Only in Aussie - upstart roo tries to outrun Copy That in final fast work before Ballarat
By Barry Lichter • 23 December 2021
Copy That was almost as startled as trainer Ray Green when a roo raced him for 300 metres of his fast work yesterday.
Having his final strong hitout before Sunday’s Sokyola Sprint at Ballarat, Copy That didn’t know quite what to think of his surprise galloping pacemaker.
“When the kangaroo popped out in front of him, near the outside of the track, you could feel him thinking ‘what the hell is that’ and he pricked his ears and backed off a bit,” Green said.
“It was only a small kangaroo but man, could it go. We were bowling along a bit.
“It would have started out 10 metres in front of us but we were racing it down.”
It’s not the first time Green has seen a roo while working Copy That.
“When we were in Brisbane a really big one appeared but didn’t actually run onto the track. Apparently in Bendigo they have to chase 20 or 30 of them off the track before they work.”
Despite the interruption, Green said Copy That felt superb round the near 1000 metre training track at Romsey, which has a small hill in it.
While Green maintains Copy That just couldn’t cope with such a hard trip first-up at Cranbourne he says the theory that he might just need a few days to acclimatise also had some merit. The horse took a week to start thriving after his arrival in Brisbane in the early winter.
Green says it’s hard for driver Chris Svanosio to make a plan for Sunday given he has drawn three on the second row over the 1710 metres.
“He’ll just have to follow them out and see where he ends up then try to get home over the top of them.
“But I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go a really good race the way he feels now.”
Green says Copy That will have no trouble round the left-handed Ballarat track which is 1000 metres with a 248 metre home straight.
Copy That races at 6.28pm NZ time at Ballarat on Sunday.
More news in Harness
It’s an even line-up but stick with fleet-footed Debbie Lincoln at Auckland on Friday night
All hail Debbie, the new speed queen of Alex Park, as she tackles a mile from the pole
Ray reaches for the half hopples to keep Whats Up The Hill trotting at Cambridge on Thursday
Debbie Lincoln’s sizzling win has namesake Debbie Green excited about the future
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thurday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
6.03pm
“He’s just come back from a two-week break and seems a lot better after the freshen-up. He’s training really well but this will be like a trial for him. There looks to be a lot of speed in the race so, from five, he won’t be put into the early rush. We’re still aiming him at the Harness 5000 at Ashburton in December.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Kevin Kline
4.44pm
“He was held up last week but still got home really well, hard on their backs and, with the right trip, he’ll be dangerous. But the race looks suited to a horse like Hooray Henry who, in a small field, can sit back and outsprint them.
Race 9: Tyson
8.54pm
“We were looking to sit in with him last week but it didn’t work out. He still ran on pretty well as he always does. He just needs a bit of luck.”
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
8.54pm
“Maurice was happy with her run last week and said she paced strongly through the line. From seven on the gate this week she’ll have to go back but I think she’s better coming from off the pace. She’s a good chance if she can get sucked into it at the right time.”
