Copy That enjoys a lazy afternoon before embarking on his New Zealand Cup campaign. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Ray’s pair ‘ready to go’ but Ashburton runs are mere belt-tighteners for the main event
By Barry Lichter • 20 October 2020
Copy That and American Dealer are nicely primed for their missions at Ashburton on Monday ahead of their flight south on Thursday.
Copy That starts from the outside of the front row in the standing start Ashburton Flying Stakes (2400m) while American Dealer fared much better drawing the pole for the fifth Sires’ Stakes heat, his main rival Krug widest in the seven-horse field.
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green gave the pair strong hitouts at Pukekohe last Wednesday and reported both worked well.
Copy That looked good running 2400 metres in 3:08, sprinting his last 800 in 56.
“He had a big, heavy cart on so it was good work.
“The other fella didn’t go quite that hard but he did what I wanted.”
The pair trained together this morning without being asked for much.
“There’s not much I can do between now and Ashburton - they’re ready to go and I’m happy with where they’re at.
“Copy That’s main mission is the cup, of course, and this Ashburton run is just a lead-up, a glorified training run. But it’s the first time he’s run into the All Stars’ horses and they’re obviously the ones to beat.
“It will give us an idea of how competitive we are.”
The Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen juggernaut lines up New Zealand Cup favourite Self Assured, second favourite Spankem and recent Australian arrival Ashley Locaz.
Waikato horseman David Butcher will continue his association with American Dealer in the Sires’ Stakes heat, drawn to get all favours either in the lead or trail.
The only other serious prospect, the All Stars’ It’s All About Faith, is alongside him in gate two in the mobile mile.
Copy That is the $6 third favourite for the $540,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 10 while American Dealer is the $7.50 third favourite for the $150,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final the same day.
How they line up in Monday’s features at Ashburton:
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
