Copy That rockets home to all but catch Old Town Road. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Ray: Copy That’s explosive finish should have the Aussies quaking in their boots
By Barry Lichter • 19 August 2022
Copy That is in the top four fancies for the Victoria Cup after his explosive finish at Auckland on Thursday night.
In his first start since fracturing a splint bone in Australia last December, Copy That had both seasoned driver Maurice McKendry and Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green reaching for superlatives after he had to race four wide for the final 600 metres and still thundered home to get within a neck of winner Old Town Road.
Bookmakers in Australia now have the New Zealand Cup winner very safe in their futures markets for the October 8 feature, one leading outfit rating him the $8 third equal fancy with Lochinvar Art behind only Spirit Of St Louis ($5) and Bondi Lockdown ($6).
Green, only partly tongue-in-cheek, said “the Aussies would be quaking in their boots” after seeing the run. With Copy That so wide while the eventual winner was racking up closing sectionals of 56.1 and 27.1 on the markers on a slushy track, Green said the effort showed just how much stronger the horse is this time in.
“It’s a shame he got humped four wide round the turn or he’d have won. I couldn’t fault anything about his effort, I couldn’t be happier.
“He’s pulled up so well too and that was his first start for eight months so he’ll only get better. There aren’t many as good as him.”
All smiles in the camp as driver Maurice McKendry and trainer Ray Green ungear Copy That last night.McKendry echoed Green’s belief that this would be Copy That’s best season.
“He seems so much stronger now, even in training he’s doing it so easily.
“Even though he was four wide I was just sitting on him, as he was travelling so well, and in the straight he just went whoosh.”
McKendry reported Copy That was beautifully settled at the 2200 metre starting point and stepped brilliantly from his 30 metre mark, much better than his No. 1 rival who galloped away from 10m and settled just one spot in front of him.
“I was nearly going to follow Zac (Butcher) when he went round on Old Town Road (1150 metres from home), but it was my horse’s first run back.”
In the wet and blustery conditions McKendry chose instead to make one later run on the horse and was rapidly overhauling Old Town Road at the finish, a terrific feat given the overall time was not fast at 2:45.3, a mile rate of 2:00.8.
“Geez, he’s gone good Ray,” McKendry repeated several times while helping to ungear the horse.
With no racing at Auckland next week and the next meeting on September 1, Copy That will not race again in New Zealand before he flies to Melbourne on August 31.
He is scheduled to have his first outing in the A$100,000 Melton Classic (mobile 1720m) on September 10 where a win would see him break through the $1 million earnings barrier. He sits on $968,575.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
