American Dealer roars past Shan Noble to win the Alabar Classic at Alexandra Park tonight. PHOTO: Megan Leifting/Race Images.
Ray chuffed over terrific New Year’s Eve trials by American Dealer and Copy That
By Barry Lichter • 11 December 2020
Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green came away from Alexandra Park tonight buoyed that he has outstanding chances for the two $200,000 features on New Year’s Eve.
- First American Dealer turned in a career best effort when screaming home to win the Alabar Classic, elevating him to co-favouritism for the $200,000 Harness Million
- Then Copy That ran a terrific trial for the $200,000 Auckland Cup, exploding from the tail of the field in the Franklin Cup and featuring in a head, neck and nose blanket finish for the minor money behind Spankem.
Green said he was “absolutely thrilled” with American Dealer who looked to have been set a tough task when three back on the outer and still giving leader B D Joe a three length head start turning for home.
“Down the back I thought he’d get home but not as good as that.”
American Dealer accelerated so fast when hooked out four wide it took only 100 metres for his supporters to see they were on a winner.
“He’s a great little horse and has smoked them,” Green said.
“He’s never gone a bad race and he’s getting better and better. He’s morphing into something special and looks to have the $200,000 race by the throat.
“He’ll be facing the same horses on December 31.”
Green described David Butcher’s drive on the little colt as beautiful.
Butcher pointed to the time as the reason for American Dealer’s big finish, his sizzling 2:38.2 for the mobile 2200 metres just nine tenths of a second slower than Copy That took in winning the race last year.
“Yes, he’s got options in being able to run from the front or behind, but the difference tonight is they ran hard.”
Butcher said he believed the run of the All Stars’ Shan Noble was on a par considering he sat parked for the last lap and went down by only half a length.
Copy That, widest, closes in on a wall of horses spread across the track close to home in the Franklin Cup. From the inside out it’s Bad To The Bone, South Coast Arden, Ashley Locaz, Thefixer and Spankem.McKendry gushing
Driver Maurice McKendry was full of praise for Copy That’s effort to finish fifth in the Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup, just 1.4 lengths from Spankem, whom he followed in the running.
Still second last 150 metres from home, Copy That really unleashed in the last 50 metres to feature in a busy photo finish with The Fixer second, Ashley Locaz third and South Coast Arden fourth.
“It was an excellent run,” McKendry said. “They sprinted that quick on the home turn and he’s gone super to get so close.
“He’s a bit awkward this way round, he lugs in a bit, but he was really travelling.”
Copy That, four back on the outer, would undoubtedly have run the fastest last 800 metres and 400 metres for the 2700 metre stand, the leaders clocking 56.6 and 27. The trip took 3:21.3.
Green called the run a great Auckland Cup trial and, crucially, one which wouldn’t have hurt the horse.
“He’s got home really well which is what we wanted. It would have been nice if he’d got some more money but he showed us he can get over the top of them.”
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
