Punters climb into Copy That who looks to have everything going for him on Friday night

Everything points to Copy That winning Friday night’s City Of Auckland Free-For-All at Alexandra Park.

As soon as punters saw Copy That had drawn two for the 2200 metre feature they attacked his opening price of $2.70, and trainer Ray Green reckons he’s a good bet even at his current quote of $1.90 given he should shoot straight to the lead.

“If history is anything to go by it would be a risk betting against him,” Green said.

“He’s very rarely been beaten when he’s led. And in small fields like this generally you don’t get too much mid-race pressure because everybody is reasonably handy. They don’t rush up and stick it to you.”

Green points out too that the main protagonists in the Free-for-all are being aimed at next month’s $1 million slot race at Cambridge so in a $45,000 lead-up, nothing is going to gut themselves attacking Copy That.

“I can see it being a glorified trial and if Copy That leads, which he should do, I don’t think there’s anything there that can beat him.

“I thought his was the run of the race last time,” Green said of Copy That’s fresh-up third in the Founders Cup when he ripped home from the back, pacing his last half in 54.5 and quarter, three wide, in 27.5.

“There wasn’t another horse in the race that could have done that and he’s fitter this time. He hasn’t drawn so well for a long time and it all looks good for him.

“I’m sure he’ll go a big race, very rarely is he out of first or second.”

Impressive reading

Copy That’s stats for 2200 metres make impressive reading.

Ignoring his first five starts when he was still galloping and learning what to do, in 23 starts over the sprint trip, he has racked up 15 wins, five seconds, two thirds and a fourth.

Drill down even further, and eliminate the standing start races, and you’ll discover from 15 starts he boasts 11 wins, two seconds, one in the Rising Sun in Queensland, one third and a fourth, in the Victoria Cup.

All that said, Green acknowledges it would be folly to dismiss his rivals completely.

“These are the best horses around, there are none better, and you don’t just slay them.”

But with main rival Old Town Road drawn seven and Akuta eight, Green says they will have to turn in exceptional performances to beat Copy That.

And while he had a lot of respect for Self Assured, the only time the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained pacer had finished ahead of Copy That was when he was disadvantaged in the NZ Cup start shemozzle of 2020.

Self Assured had also trialled only once after a recent setback and even Mark Purdon has declared he would be “pleasantly surprised” if either Self Assured or Akuta won given they are being aimed at The Race By Grins.

Copy That, on the other hand, looked sharp in his Pukekohe workout last Saturday, ripping home in 56.7 to beat a late-closing Old Town Road, despite locking wheels turning for home.