Copy That is enjoying being home at Lincoln Farms in Pukekohe. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Poser for punters with Copy That racing on Thursday - from 55 metres behind in a sprint
By Barry Lichter • 17 October 2022
Copy That will race at Auckland on Thursday night, despite having a testing 55 metre handicap over a sprint trip.
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green confirmed this afternoon that the reigning New Zealand Cup winner would definitely run to best fit him for the big race in three weeks.
“It’s either that or go to the trials and there’s a big risk we’d end up going round by ourselves,” Green said. “We might as well race for $25,000 on Thursday.
“I dont care about the handicap - if he doesn’t win, he doesn’t win. I expect he’ll tack on - he usually begins well - and get a suck along. Then we’ll see what happens.”
Green couldn’t confirm a driver today for Copy That in the 2200 metre Breckon Farms Pace, not having spoken to Maurice McKendry who is also the regular driver of main rival Hot And Treacherous who is on the 40 metre tape.
Copy That returned home four days ago, very fit from a four-race Victorian campaign which culminated in a sterling fourth in the Victoria Cup, and Green says he has done very little with him since.
“He had a few days off and he’s just been jogging and done a bit of pacework, nothing fast yet. “Tomorrow he’ll have a faster run but not very strong.”
Green says he’ll see how Copy That pulls up after Thursday’s race but he could also be a surprise starter at Cambridge the following week. Cambridge has a 2700 metre stand programmed for rating 55 and faster horses.
“That would set him up beautifully for Christchurch with the cup run 11 days later.”
Copy That is equal third favourite on $9 with BD Joe for the $600,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 8, behind co-favourites Self Assured and Rock N Roll Doo.
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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.”
