Copy That is too fast for Self Assured and Spankem in the Ashburton Flying Stakes. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.
Ray: Flying Mile right up Copy That’s alley and, if he leads, it should be game over
By Barry Lichter • 6 January 2021
Copy That is primed to really fly in Friday night’s Flying Mile at Cambridge judging by his sectional figures in the Auckland Cup.
But Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green won’t be drawn on what time the little four-year-old will run when he faces two of the best horses in the country, Self Assured and Spankem, on one of the fastest circuits.
Incredibly, Copy That paced his last mile of the 3200 metre Auckland Cup, sitting parked, in 1:53.5, and was still coming at the finish, testimony to how well Green has the horse going.
Some big name pacers have failed to run anywhere near as fast as that in winning the Cambridge Flying Mile over the last five years - Chase Auckland clocked 1:54.9, Turn It Up 1:54.5, Star Galleria 1:54.1, Lazarus 1:54.9 and The Orange Agent 1:56.3.
Copy That looks more likely to go closer to the 1:51.6 Adore Me ran in 2015 but Green isn’t rating that as a priority, nor testing Border Control’s New Zealand record of 1:50.6.
“You get no points for breaking records,” Green said. “If Maurice (McKendry) can get in a slow quarter, I’m sure he will.”
Green said Copy That’s “huge” Auckland Cup placing dispelled any theories that the horse couldn’t get two miles but “the mile is right up his alley.
“He’ll fly a mile and if he made the lead without too much trouble I think he’d have them covered.
“If you take a line through the Ashburton race I can’t imagine the result being any different.”
In the Ashburton Flying Sakes, run at 2400 metres, Copy That led and easily held Self Assured and Spankem, reeling off closing sectionals of 53.4 and 25.2.
That race, on October 26, was the last race Copy That won but Green said the horse had had plenty of bad luck in five starts since.
Potent at shorter trip
He showed just how potent he was at the shorter trip when he clocked a mile rate of 1:52 in winning over 1700 metres at Auckland last August.
Copy That, from three, needs to cross Mach Shard and Triple Eight to lead on Friday night, which he is certainly capable of.
“It’s pointless going back but crossing them could be easier said than done. If Mach Shard wants to lead, it will make things tougher.”
But Copy That definitely has the barrier edge on the two now Hayden Cullen-trained pair Self Assured and Spankem, who are in six and seven, which is reflected in the bookies’ odds.
The opening market has Copy That a $2.30 favourite, ahead of Spankem ($3.20) and Self Assured ($3.40) who has not started since winning the New Zealand Cup two months ago.
Green said he’d just kept Copy That ticking over since the Auckland Cup and he trained nicely on Tuesday, without being asked for too much.
“He was pretty fit before the cup and seems very well.”
Captain Nemo shades stablemate Apieceoflou in his win at Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.Captain Nemo, in race two, is easily the best chance of the remaining three Lincoln Farms’ runners on the night.
He drops way down in grade to a rating 40 to 48 race, whereas he faced the best three-year-olds in the country last time in the Harness Million at Alexandra Park.
Captain Nemo leaves from the outside of the arm but Green says he can overcome that.
“He just needs to do everything right. He’s still a work in progress and hits a knee going right-handed. Left handed, at Cambridge, he seems a lot better. He’s a definite winning chance.”
In his only two starts on the course, Captain Nemo has won and run fourth, pacing a mile rate of 1:55.6 when fourth to B D Joe and American Dealer in a Sires’ Stakes heat last October.
He was having his first race for more than two months in the Harness Million on New Year’s Eve so will be vastly fitter this time.
Green said Themightyserina (race six) and Brian Christopher (race 11) performed well at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday, both finishing second after trailing on a wet, slushy track.
“They’ll win one soon but I can’t guarantee it will be Friday as they’re both inconvenienced by bad draws. “Serina will go a good, honest race but she’ll have to rough it to get handy from seven. She’d be better with a draw and a trip.
“Brian Christopher needs to draw the front and go forward but that won’t happen from the inside of the second row on Friday night.
“He’ll need some luck. If they roll along, it will suit him.”
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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.”
