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
Cheapies The Night Fox and Lincoln Maree keep the tally ticking over at Cambridge
Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Leo poised to roar again - he looks a ratings special at Cambridge on Thursday night
Pole goes on The Night Fox - now he just needs a little luck from a niggly draw on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.55pm
“Frank drove a nice race on her last time, doing a bit of work early before leading and trailing, but I think the result might have been different if she’d led all the way. She has no speed, she’s better in front and rolling, so this week we’ll tell Frank to go forward and to not hand up and hopefully she can go one better.”
Race 4: The Night Fox
6.56pm
“He got KOed last time at Auckland but Harry said he felt like he could have won with a decent draw so we’ll just put that race behind us. I wouldn’t say this field is any harder. We’ve got a bad draw again but it depends on how the race pans out. I think he can still win.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.58pm
“He’s doing a good job, and he ran home well last time at Cambridge, but Leo Lincoln is definitely the pick of ours.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.58pm
“He’ll strip a lot fitter and I think he’s a good winning chance. He’s been racing open class horses and this is a huge drop back for him.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Linda
5.06pm
“I’m not holding my breath. She beat a poor bunch at Cambridge and will have to step up here.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
5.45pm
“Given the right trip, she should finish off not too bad as she has a bit of speed but, after two runs back, she needs to improve.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s only little but she trialled super and got home in 2:00.6 mile rate. If she repeats that, she’ll be in the fray. It’s early days yet but she’s a nice, tractable filly who has drawn well in two and, based on that one trial, you’d have to give her a chance. Whether she improves off it, we’ll see.”
Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.34pm
“I don’t think any of the others stand over her. She’s a tough mare who has trained on well. I’d love to see her in front, she’s proven that’s where she goes best, but whether she’ll get there from four is debatable. But I’m sure she’ll go another good race.”
