Copy That relaxing in his paddock at Lincoln Farms. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Ray: Aussie will have to wait - Copy That to spell then target the two derbies at home
By Barry Lichter • 17 December 2019
Alabar Classic winner Copy That won’t be travelling to Australia this summer, trainer Ray Green revealing today he will concentrate on the two derbies in New Zealand.
A smorgasbord of options opened up for Lincoln Farms’ star pacer after he downed New Zealand’s best three-year-olds for the second week on end at Alexandra Park last Saturday night.
But while Green and Australian owners Merv and Meg Butterworth would like to have tested their colt against the best across the Tasman, Green says the timing is against them.
“The horse has lightened up a bit and needs a break so we’ll be giving him two to three weeks in the paddock now.
“If we were to go for the Victoria Derby he’d need to be over there three weeks beforehand and it simply comes too soon.”
The A$200,000 Victoria Derby Final is run at Melton on January 25 but Copy That would also have to contest a derby heat at Ballarat a week earlier.
Copy That will instead be aimed at the $250,000 Northern Derby at Auckland on March 6, which means he cannot also contest the A$200,000 New South Wales Derby which is run a night later at Menangle.
He will then head south for the $200,000 New Zealand Derby at Addington on April 13.
Alabar Stud general manager Graeme Henley presents the Alabar Classic trophy to Copy That’s trainer Ray Green.Copy That not only stamped himself as the country’s leading three-year-old during the Interdominion carnival but he showed a rare brand of speed that few of his peers have matched in recent years when clocking 2:37.3 on Saturday night.
Without doubt Alexandra Park’s racing surface is far more conducive to fast times now but only Chase Auckland - who clocked 2:36.4 in winning the Alabar (former Elsu Classic) in 2017 - has run faster over the mobile 2200 metres in the race’s 15-year history.
Saturday night’s Interdominion winner Ultimate Sniper paced 2:40.8 in 2018, Ultimate Machete scored in 2:42 in 2016 and superstar Lazarus went 2:41.3 in 2015, underlining the statement by Alabar Stud’s Graeme Henley that the Classic was a launching pad for “great horses.”
The New Zealand three-year-old record is held by Ultimate Machete at 2:36.1.
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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.”
