A few metres past the line in the Victoria Cup and Copy That, inner, is charging and already alongside winner Rock N Roll Doo.
Ray stoked with Copy That who’s unlikely to race again before the New Zealand Cup
By Barry Lichter • 10 October 2022
Copy That almost certainly won’t race again until the New Zealand Trotting Cup, trainer Ray Green confident the horse is now fit and ready to defend his crown.
Green loved the way Copy That hit the line in last Saturday night’s A$300,000 Victoria Cup, just failing to catch third-placed Better Eclipse and clearly in front 50 metres after the post.
“What I liked most was he was still trucking at the line. The way he raced and pulled up tells me he’s in pretty good shape now. And he didn’t bleed again.”
Copy That’s home stretch sprint from three back on the pegs saw him clock a faster last quarter than the first three home, Rock N Roll Doo, Honolua Bay and Better Eclipse and his 26.56 was shaded only by sixth placed Triple Eight (26.44).
Copy That’s overall clocking of 2:39.03 for the 2240 metres was also full of merit, representing a mile rate of 1:54.25.
Copy That’s closing 400 was faster than the first three home in the Victoria Cup.The effort saw Copy That bank A$15,000 to take his earnings from the four-race campaign to A$32,180.
Copy That will arrive home in Auckland at 7am on Thursday, having paid for his expenses but, more importantly, having had enough hard racing to ready him for the cup.
“It’s mission accomplished really. I couldn’t have got the mileage into him in New Zealand - he’d been off for such a long time and you can’t get them back to that top level to be competitive in two races.
“So it made sense to come here and race for some serious money.”
Green says Copy That won’t contest either of the next cup lead-ups, the Ashburton Flying Stakes on October 24 or Kaikoura Cup on October 31.
“There’s a plane south on November 1, a week before the cup, and we’re booked on that.”
Copy That would also not contest the traditional cup trial the following day.
“We’ll follow the same path as last year and possibly trial at home on the Saturday before the flight.”
Copy That was forced to trial last year when his race at Auckland did not get off the ground and he set tongues wagging with a 15 length win in a staggering 3:03.5 for the 2500 metres.
The only Auckland meeting between now and Copy That’s flight is on October 20 and, while Green says Copy That might front up if there was enough opposition, he says he’s not holding his breath.
Green said he was comfortable about Copy That having a month in between runs now that he’s fully race fit.
Simply Sam is third on the markers early in the run home of the Victoria Derby but he wilted to eighth.Simply Sam for the big cut
Travel mate Simply Sam, who weakened to eighth in Saturday night’s A$200,000 Victoria Derby, has only one engagement on his return, an immediate appointment with the vet.
“He’ll be gelded as soon as he gets off the plane.
The trip has got his hormones up and he’s turned into a real handful. He wants to fight everything and is striking and being a complete twit.
“He had his chance in the derby and wasn’t strong enough but he did take it out of himself before the race, both transporting to the races and at the track when he wouldn’t relax.
“We had to stop halfway to the races on the side of the motorway to give him a reminder as he was screaming, kicking and striking in the float.”
Green said his night at Melton was mostly about making sure Simply Sam didn’t get hurt.
“I couldn’t leave him and Copy That by themselves as they hate each other.
“I had to watch Argyle’s race on the TV and as soon as I walked away he got his leg over the cross tie and it took five of us to get him out of trouble. Then every two or three minutes after that he’d start up again.”
Green says he’s sure the trip away will stand to Simply Sam in the future, especially with his new found gate speed.
Driver Nathan Jack got the horse out so well in the derby he led them into the first bend before settling into the trail behind Leap To Fame.
Simply Sam’s five runs in Victoria earned his connections A$14,350, just a few dollars short of his three-year-old stablemate Argyle (A$15,280).
Argyle won’t be on the flight home, destined for Queensland and the stable of Mark Dux, but his effort last Saturday night gave Green plenty of hope for his future there.
Argyle, courtesy of his good gate speed, trailed all the way and found a 26.71 final quarter to finish 3.7 metres second to former Kiwi Pull The Other Leg.
“He was never going to beat the winner but he shook the others off.
”His form line is a lot better than some of the others we’ve sent to Brisbane and I think he’ll do a good job up there.”
Green’s trio earned a total of A$61,810 on the trip.
More news in Harness
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
