Copy That can win Saturday night’s Victoria Cup with a perfect trailing draw, says trainer Ray Green.
All clear for Copy That and at $16 and $4 Ray says he’s at a great price in the Victoria Cup
By Barry Lichter • 6 October 2022
Copy That has scoped clear and will take his place in Saturday night’s A$300,000 Victoria Cup, trainer Ray Green believing he is primed to win.
Green reported the vet saw nothing out of the ordinary when Copy That was scoped today at Yabby Dam Farm in Ballarat in front of Victorian stewards.
“There’s nothing wrong with the horse. He’s in great shape and I think he’s very capable of winning if he gets a good trip.”
The finding only confirmed what Green expected, Copy That having been his normal self since it was discovered he had a minor bleed in last Saurday night’s Smoken Up Sprint at Melton when he weakened to fifth after sitting parked.
“It will all come down to luck in the running but we’re in with a decent shout.
“I can’t understand why people think he can’t win,” said Green laughing at the $16 and $4 quote the New Zealand TAB has on the horse.
“That shows you how much they know. I know what he’s capable of, the world knows, so they shouldn’t be disregarding him.
“He’s a New Zealand Cup winner who has won five Group I races, so he’s the best performed horse in the field.
“He’s going into the race in top shape. Apart from that last episode everything has gone to plan. He’s following out the second favourite, who will be trying to hold up, so he’ll be handy.
“Expensive Ego is a very good horse so he’s an obvious danger from two and Better Eclipse has run a 1:47 mile in the Chariots so he’s got to be tough too.
“You can’t fault what Rock N Roll Doo has done recently and Honolua Bay is a promising horse but I don’t think he’s ready to beat anybody important yet.
“There are some tidy horses in the race but nothing Copy That can’t handle.”
Green says he’s done nothing different with Copy That this week.
“He did a bit of steady work yesterday and a little bit of the same today, though not as intense.
“Tomorrow I’ll just jog him, I won’t be drilling him with any fast work, that’s not what I do. I’ll leave that to the others.”
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Cambridge
Lincoln Lover, Prince Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Sugar Ray Lincoln.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm
“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm
“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm
“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”
