Copy That has South Coast Arden well covered at the finish of the Holmes DG. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
The call that put a smile on Ray’s face - long before Copy That’s dominant Holmes DG win
By Barry Lichter • 10 October 2020
Copy That’s Holmes DG triumph at Auckland showed punters he was right on track for the New Zealand Trotting Cup - but it was a phone call several hours before the race that pleased trainer Ray Green the most.
Green had been almost resigned to missing a key lead-up race at Ashburton on October 26 because the only flight south was scheduled for November 4 and he didn’t want to subject the horse to a gruelling two-day road trip.
But when cup sponsor IRT called Green to tell him a flight was now on for October 22 it made his job of preparing the horse for the $540,000 feature that much easier.
“The timing of the new flight is just perfect. It’s at mid-day, which means he can jog that morning and be in his new stable by 3pm.
“And he can now run in the Ashburton Flying Stakes and possibly the cup trial (November 4) if he needs another hitout.”
Copy That, who has slipped out to a $4.60 third favourite for the November 10 cup, was right back to his dominant best at Alexandra Park on Friday night, the win never in doubt after he looped the field to lead with just under a lap to run.
The little powerhouse sprinted clear early in the run home and at the post had a neck margin on South Coast Arden whose driver Brent Mangos had trouble activating the plugs in the run home.
Green knows the knockers will claim he should have beaten a four-win horse more easily. And he can just hear them questioning how Copy That will cope with a tough 3200 metres when he was tiring at the finish of 2700 metres just a month out?
“Yes he was getting a bit tired but I expected that. He hasn’t had to run 2700 metres for quite a long time and he’s still a bit porky.
“I can guarantee he’s not on top of his game yet - he blew up a bit after the run. When he went down to Christchurch for the Derby last year he was quite light.
Maurice McKendry brings Copy That back. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.“I can’t see how anyone could be critical of the run - he had to do a bit of work from 30 metres and he’s gone 3:18.”
Copy That’s 3:18.3 was 1.1 seconds slower than Triple Eight’s winning time last year but still represented a nippy mile rate of 1:58.1 and saw the closing splits run in 56 and 27.2. But Copy That was timed to run his last mile in a very slick 1:54.3.
Driver Maurice McKendry reported Copy That paced much more freely than when pipped in the Spring Cup at his previous start, an issue subsequently rectified by routine vet work.
“Maurice said he was a bit shaky round the first corner but after he gave him a slap on the arse he was good.
“I was toying with the idea of putting his pole back on but we tried him in a rein burr instead and that seems to have done the job.
“I’m sure he’ll be even better next time but it’s hard to weigh up the northern and southern form. We’ll find out soon enough.”
Green and owner Merv Butterworth have resolved to concentrate on the cup and won’t be asking Copy That to race again three days later in the $180,000 Free-for-all (1980m) on Show day.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
