Copy That is too good in the Sunshine Sprint but he has a much harder task at Albion Park on Saturday night. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Ray: We’re all running for second against King Of Swing but watch the Dealer go in the Derby
By Barry Lichter • 22 July 2021
Copy That is flying but not even Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green believes he will beat King Of Swing in Saturday’s A$250,000 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship at Albion Park.
Green is delighted with how well Copy That ($9.50) has come through his thrilling win over King Of Swing in last weekend’s Sunshine Sprint but says with King Of Swing drawn to lead from the pole, it makes the 2680 metre feature a “gimmee” for the Sydney giant.
“It’s hard to make a case for anything else,” says Green. “It’s actually robbed the race of a lot of interest. Nobody will bet against him and he’s too short to bet on ($1.18).
“We’ll have to be handy to him to be able to outsprint him and I don’t think we’ll get close enough. King Of Swing will throw in a 26 quarter and we’ll be spotting him three lengths turning for home.
“That makes it almost impossible to beat the horse.”
That’s exactly what happened when King Of Swing took the 2020 Blacks A Fake when it was moved because of Covid to last December. The horse led and reeled off a 26.2 last 400 to easily beat Colt Thirty One and Turn It Up in a 1:58.5 mile rate.
Green says having one of the best drivers in the business, Anthony Butt, handling Copy That might also not be enough, given he has to weave some magic from five on the gate.
“The thing is Luke McCarthy is every bit as good a driver as Anthony and he’s driving the hot favourite, drawn one. But if we can run second, I’ll be happy.”
Copy That, who has racked up two wins and a close second in his three Brisbane starts, will be on a flight home on August 8 for a short break but none of his travelling companions will be returning with him.
Last start for Green
American Dealer, pictured winning the South East Derby, is a lot stronger now than when he finished behind Krug in the New Zealand Derby and Great Northern Derby. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Saturday night’s A$102,000 Queensland Derby will be American Dealer’s last start for Green and Lincoln Farms, the American owned three-year-old due to move to Kevin Pizzuto’s Sydney barn.
And Tommy Lincoln, who looks a leading chance in the opening race, will continue to campaign in Brisbane, along with Captain Nemo, for Green’s host Mark Dux.
Green has high hopes that American Dealer ($3.90) can go out on a winning note, his perfect two draw giving him a real edge over hot favourite Krug ($1.70) drawn to follow him out from the second row.
“If Dealer gets beaten it will be Krug who does it. He’s got the others covered - he’s capable of sitting parked and beating them.
“It’s certainly better to be in front of Krug than behind him and right now I think he’s vulnerable.
“From all accounts Krug was pretty tired after the Rising Sun. He didn’t race last week but they say he’s bounced back. Whether that race has taken its toll, we’ll find out.
“Krug is a beautiful horse but I don’t think he’s as strong as he’s going to get. But he’s certainly speedy enough and classy enough.”
Green doesn’t believe the longer 2680 metres will bother American Dealer who was very brave when winning last week’s South East Derby over 2138 metres.
“He’s gone that trip before and the little guy is a lot stronger now than when he ran behind Krug in the NZ Derby and Great Northern Derby.
“Back then he was always going good races but he needed a trip. Now he can rough it and that’s the difference, you’ve got to be versatile at the top.”
Green can see Butt wresting an early lead on American Dealer and, with Krug on his back, the race could turn into a real tactical affair.
“The imponderable is whether some of the lunatic drivers drawn wider will launch off the gate.”
Tommy Lincoln records his second win at Albion Park, going all the way. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
The plot looks a lot simpler in the opener when Tommy Lincoln will be shooting for his third win on the trip.
“He should lead easily from two and has got to be hard to beat. It’s only a mile, which is his best go, and if he throws in a 54.5 again they’ll be flat getting round him.”
Green says Tommy Lincoln seems over the foot abscess which flared last week.
“He’s good now, he’s feeling well. He got over the foot trouble in a couple of days.”
Tommy Lincoln is well up to beating the quality of field he meets on Saturday night, says Green.
“That horse of Luke McCarthy’s in one, Fairy Tinkabell, is supposed to be quite good but you’d think Luke would be happy to follow us.”
Green says the horse’s winning run won’t be over this weekend either.
“Tommy’s got another two wins before he has to run against the top horses here.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 7.15pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
American Dealer races at 9.13pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Copy That races at 10.14pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
The dream’s alive but Nate tells why he’ll wait for ‘Harry’ before racing Eric again
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
