Torrid trip just too much for Copy That at Cranbourne but Ray turns the page
By Barry Lichter • 19 December 2021
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green will get Copy That blood tested tomorrow but doesn’t expect to find anything to explain his career worst run in Saturday night’s Cranbourne Cup.
“He just had too tough a trip,” said Green matter-of-factly today. “We’ll just have to turn the page.”
Green, who arrived a day late and under Covid restrictions wasn’t permitted to go to the track, had to drive 30km to see the race in a Kilmore TAB and said it was a very hard watch.
Copy That had to use plenty of petrol early as he was five, four then three wide round the first bend before driver Chris Svanosio blasted forward to try to wrest the lead from Amazing Dream.
But Svanosio quickly backed off when Anthony Butt quickened and sat parked until General Dodge pressed forward soon afterwards to give him cover.
But a couple of hundred metres later Svanosio left the one-one to take up the death seat again where he stayed until putting up the white flag on the home turn.
Ray Green … “I’m sure he’ll bounce back.”“He was still there on the corner but you could see he was struggling,” Green said.
“Chris gave him a slap and, to his credit, when there was nobody home he didn’t drive him up the straight. But it was still sad to see him drop out.”
Copy That ran last, 36 metres behind winner Supreme Dominator and 20 metres behind the second last horse with the mobile 2555 event run at a 1:57.8 mile rate.
“We told Chris to drive the horse aggressively but that was too much for him to deal with.
“We won’t worry about it. The horse is a little tired this morning but seems to have pulled up fine. He’s eaten everything. I’ll take a blood tomorrow to see where he’s at and he’ll have an easy two or three days.”
Green is confident Copy That can bounce back.
“He has a good constitution and looked beautiful going into the race.”
Copy That was to have had his next race in the Bendigo Cup on January 8 but Green says he’ll just play it by ear.
The horse seemed to be settling in well to his new surroundings at Svanosio’s Romsey stable even if he was a little bit more aware of his colt status than at home.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: What’s Up The Hill
5.33pm
“He hasn’t raced for more than four months but he’s trotting well in training and has had a couple of workouts. He steps well so if Fergie can keep him away from the others, and he slides on from the 20 metre mark, he could even lead, and that would make him the one to beat. It doesn’t take much for him to lose concentration though.”
Race 4: Lincoln La Moose
6.23pm
“He hasn’t raced for a while but should go well. He finished off his workout really well on a 26.9 quarter for a close fourth behind some good ones (Greased Lightnin, Beetastic and Diamonds Are Forever). He beat himself in his last few runs by racing too keenly but he’s capable enough.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.30pm
“She went to the line under a hold last week. She’s right up there with the best of them but you’re no chance when you get back like that. She hasn’t got a good draw again but it’s a small field and hopefully they won’t walk and only sprint home. Joyride looks the one to beat.”
Race 3: Tyson
6.23pm
“He was definitely beaten by the draw last week. He never got the chance to get out. From five this time he won’t get jammed up and can go forward and put himself in the race.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.52pm
“Sugar Ray has a tad more speed than Kevin, but he had to sit parked for the last 1200 metres last week. You’d think he’ll get a good trip this time from the inside draw.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.52pm
“Kevin is as honest as they come. He’s a bit more genuine than Sugar Ray. He closed fast from the back last Friday and is better suited over 2200 metres this week.”
