Ray and Maurice on a high after Copy That blasts home in 26 flat in Pukekohe workout

Copy That’s name might not have gone up in the winner’s frame after today’s workout at Pukekohe but his powerful sprint from the back had both driver Maurice McKendry and trainer Ray Green on a high.

“He’s back!” Green declared after Copy That returned to Lincoln Farms’ stable, some impressive sectionals behind his dashing late run from last and three wide turning for home which carried him to just a neck behind the Arna Donnelly-trained Kango.

The winner, who has won his last three starts, was credited with a time of 3:13.8 for the stand start 2500 metres, a mile rate of 2:04.7, with a closing 800 in 56.3 and 400 in 26.8.

But McKendry clocked Copy That to run his last 2400 metres in three minutes flat with his last 400 in an electric 26 flat.

Best of all, Copy That pulled up hardly blowing, showing he had taken no ill effects from his New Zealand Cup campaign.

“He never got beat down there, he got rorted,” said Green in reference to the debacle of a start in the cup which saw the outside horses gain a huge advantage over Copy That and his fellow inside runners.

Ray Green brings Copy That back to the barn today at Lincoln Farms.Copy That had only three or four days off on his return to Pukekohe and Green has kept the horse up to his work since, a recent mile in 1:59 showing he was in good heart.

Today’s test over the longer trip would have the horse nicely tuned for Auckland on Friday night, said Green.

“He’s got to be firing on all cylinders when he resumes. He has three standing starts coming up and I think we’ll see him beginning a lot better.”

Green believes Copy That, who is still growing, will quickly pick up his winning thread.

His December programme includes:

• Friday’s Group III $28,500 Summer Cup (2200m)
• The Group II $47,500 Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup (2700m) on December 11 and
• The Group I $200,000 Auckland Cup (3200m) on December 31.

In a blanket finish to today’s heat which saw only two necks and a half head separate the first four home, the next home were Bad To The Bone and Gambit.

David Butcher and little warrior American Dealer range alongside the pacemaking Taipo.Classy three-year-old American Dealer also bowed to another in-form Donnelly-trained improver in Taipo in his 2050 metre heat but driver David Butcher was suitably impressed.

“We were really running,” said Butcher who got a response from the horse every time he asked, despite sitting parked for the last 1000 metres.

Taipo held a three-quarter length margin at the finish but with closing sectionals of 56.1 and 26.5, faster than the open heat, Butcher said he didn’t need to go easy faster.

The 2050 metres was run in an impressive 1:59.8 mile rate.

American Dealer, a close sixth in the Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on cup day, also resumes next week.

His December looks like this:

• The $17,500 Northern Three-Year-Old Stakes (mobile 2200m) on December 4
• The Group II $47,500 Alabar Classic (mobile 2200m) on December 11 and
• The Listed $200,000 Harness Million (mobile 2200m) on December 31.

Themightyserina strides out nicely turning for home today.Little filly Themightyserina looked ready for a good debut next week when she took her non-winners’ heat over 2050 metres.

Third in the early running, Butcher took the filly to the top mid-heat and she held on well to beat Donnelly’s Waitforever a half head, with another one and a quarter lengths to Shanlou.

She cut out the trip in 2:41.1, a mile rate of 2:06.4, closing in 58.6 and 28.

The American Ideal filly, who is out of a sister to the $4.8 million winning champion Themightyquinn, will be nominated for both Cambridge on Thursday and Auckland on Friday.

Bettor Copy trails leader Major Bro.“She’s come up really well this time,” Green said. “She was small and not that strong but she’s strengthened and arrived this time. Where she takes us, nobody knows.”

Bettor’s Delight three-year-old Bettor Copy ran last of four in the left-handed non-winners’ heat taken out by Natural Fire.

“She’s doing everything right but needs more time to strengthen.”