Ray: Drawing one in the cup is just fine after Copy That aced the start in today’s cup trial

Any worries trainer Ray Green might have had with Copy That drawing the pole in Tuesday’s $540,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup were allayed when the horse stepped beautifully in tonight’s cup trial at Addington.

Drawing the markers in the country’s biggest race can be a two edged sword as the starts have often been drawn-out affairs.

“But I like what he did at the start today so I’m more than happy drawing one,” said Green after a hot 2600 metre final lead-up.

Copy That began very cleanly from widest in the seven horse heat but quickly settled fourth on the markers as cup second favourite Spankem tore off in front.

And when Spankem’s stablemate, co cup-favourite Self Assured moved round to sit parked, Copy That’s driver Blair Orange was happy to stay where he was.

“Blair said they were going fast so he didn’t need to pull him out and put him into it. He said the horse felt super and was travelling all the way.”

With Spankem driven along to run a 54.9 last half and 26.9 last 400, Copy That sat pat, turning for home at the rear and staying there in the run to the post.

“He didn’t need to go any faster than he did - they went 3:12.3.

“But the best part of it was how high Blair was on the way he stepped. Drawing one shouldn’t be a problem.

“You never know what the starter is going to do down here but, all things being equal, if he steps like that on the day he’ll be right there.”

Green said he’d prefer Copy That to be in one, with only one horse beside him, rather than in the middle of the line in heavy traffic.

And it was a bonus that both Spankem and smart beginner Classie Brigade had both drawn the second row in the cup.

Self Assured, who will start from eight on the front line when the emergencies come out, was newly off the unruly list and would need to behave himself with horses either side of him.

While Self Assured bobbled away tonight he looked to have gone up a rung fitness-wise when he ran home strongly for second just one and a quarter lengths behind his stablemate, with a neck and half a head to Di Caprio and Thefixer.

Ray Green … not ready to wave the white flag with American Dealer. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.Second row draw for Final

The draw didn’t go the way of Lincoln Farms’ American Dealer in Tuesday’s $150,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final.

Green knows he will need luck from three on the second row but he has race favourite Krug inside him and isn’t ready to wave the white flag just yet.

Green was delighted with how American Dealer performed in his 1980 metre mobile heat today.

Driven by Green’s Christchurch host Ken Barron, the little prize fighter went back in another fast seven-horse heat.

“He sat and came late to run third. Amazing Dream licked along and went a 1:55.5 mile rate.

“Ken said he felt really good and it was only a trial after all. We were there just to show him the place and make sure his gear was right and we achieved that goal.”

Amazing Dream, driven by Natalie Rasmussen, scored by a length and a half over the Barry Purdon-Scott Phelan-trained Some Do, with another three-quarters of a length to American Dealer, recording closing sectionals of 56.1 and 29.1.

Sires’ Stakes Final favourite Krug ran fifth.

The All Stars laid down a warning for cup week when winning each of the six heats it contested, including Sires Stakes finalists It’s All About Faith and Pace N Pride.

It’s All About Faith won his 1980 metre heat in 2:25.7, a mile rate of 1:58.3, closing in 57.2 and 27.8.

Pace N Pride was much slower in his heat, recording 2:28.7 in beating stablemate Gopati a neck, with the 800 in 57.5 and 400 in 28.1.

Copy That has drawn the ace in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.American Dealer leaves from three on the second row in the Sires’ Stakes Final.