Ray: Our driver will be calling all the shots on Copy That but Classic only like a glorified trial

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green will be leaving it up to driver Nathan Jack to make the call on whether to push the button on Copy That out of the gate in Saturday night’s Caduceus Classic at Melton.

The New Zealand Cup champion leaves from four on a speedy front line in the 1720 metre sprint with the connections of pole runner Tango Tara already declaring their intentions to try to hold the front.

But Green says he has no pre-set plan given how hard it is to predict how races will be run.

“The worst thing is to have a plan because as soon as you do that, you’re in trouble.

“That’s why you need good drivers. The driver can assess the situation before he goes 50 metres and act accordingly. Whether he goes to the front or trails or sits parked you can’t predict.

“We can’t be worried about it if someone is going to go silly.

Ray Green … “the worst thing is to have a plan.”“My driver is very good, he has plenty of respect out there and he knows the other drivers and the horses, which I don’t. I”ll just tell him about my horse, and his little quirks, and leave the rest to him.”

Green says he can’t fault Copy That’s condition going into Saturday night’s race.

The horse performed well in his final fast work this week, pacing his usual mile in a relaxed 2:05.

“It’s only his second start in nine months so he won’t be rock hard fit but I can’t see why he won’t go a good race. Class always prevails.

“I’m sure he’ll be competitive but we won’t be slitting our wrists if he doesn’t win. This race is purely a lead-up to the Victoria Cup (October 8). It might be a $100,000 Group I race but it’s more a glorified trial for us.

“Of course we want to win it but it’s not the end of the world if we don’t. It’s just a training run really.”

Green, however, believes Copy That’s opposition isn’t as strong as it could have been.

Only Honolua Bay (Vicbred 4yo Final) and Max Delight (2021 Victoria Cup, NSW Derby and 2019 3yo Breeders Crown) have won Group I races, whereas Copy That has four under his belt.

“It’s hard to know how good Honolua Bay is, he’s very promising obviously as he’s won his last eight on end. But he’s been beating second-raters, he hasn’t run into class horses yet.”

Max Delight, who beat Triple Eight, King Of Swing and Amazing Dream in last year’s Victoria Cup, was a legitimate contender working his way back into form.

Of the others:

• Tango Tara has a sole Group II win and has scored only one win in his last 14 starts, at Mildura.
• Torrid Saint has never won a Group race and claims only one win in his last 13 starts, clocking 1:51.7 at Melton two starts back
• Supreme Dominator’s best win was the Group II Cranbourne Cup
• Willie Go West claims only a Group II Hobart Cup and Group III Maryborough Cup and
• Rock N Roll Doo has won a Group II, the Paleface Adios at Menangle.

Safely through Saturday night, Green has the A$80,000 Kilmore Cup (2690m) on September 23 planned for Copy That.

“There are two other possible races, one the week before the Victoria Cup (the $50,000 Smoken Up Sprint (1720m) at Melton).”

Copy That races at 11.14pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.