Copy That pictured at his Woongoolba stable looking fit and ready for Saturday night. PHOTO: Brittany Graham.
Cards fall best for American Dealer on Saturday with Copy That drawn to need luck
By Barry Lichter • 1 July 2021
Barrier draws at Albion Park on Saturday point to American Dealer as Lincoln Farms’ best winning chance of the night.
Trainer Ray Green lines up Copy That from the inside of the second row in the fifth race, Tommy Lincoln from two on the second row in the ninth race and American Dealer, drawn four in a seven-horse field in the last, all to be driven by top horseman Anthony Butt.
“On that American Dealer looks our best shot,” says Green. “He trained well on Wednesday morning and I can’t imagine him not going better than last time.”
American Dealer came from the second row for fourth in his Queensland debut on June 22, finishing on well on a very fast 54.5 last half by the winner Ilikemebettor.
The horse had a little trouble pacing roughly on the bends that day but Green isn’t expecting any repetition of that on Saturday night.
“I’ve tightened up his gear a bit and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since. We also did a rebuild of the walls of his feet which were very thin, making it hard to nail a shoe on.
American Dealer … looks well placed in the last race at Albion Park on Saturday night.“They basically build on a layer of bog which makes the foot bigger so he should be a lot happier.”
Green said American Dealer’s blood test yesterday came back showing he was slightly dehydrated.
“But that’s nothing we can’t rectify.”
The only genuine rival he faces on Saturday, Talent To Spare, has the advantage of leaving from two on the gate, from where he’ll either lead or trial.
“I’ll leave it up to our driver to decide what to do from four,” says Green. “But I’m confident he’ll be hard to beat regardless of where he ends up.”
The same can’t be said for stable star Copy That in the A$25,000 Wondai’s Mate, the 1660 metre feature named after the former star pacer who retired in 1987 the winner of 73 races of his 121 races.
“We’re going to need a lot of luck from where he’s drawn. Spankem and Colt Thirty One aren’t slugs and have drawn the front row so should be on pace whereas we’ll be behind a bunch of horses which makes it a bit awkward for us.
“He’ll cop a lot of traffic. You can’t have a plan from there - Anthony will have to make the calls.”
But Green says with Saturday’s race only a lead-up to the A$250,000 The Rising Sun the following week, Copy That doesn’t need a gut buster.
“We’ll be driving him for a soft trip, with a hope and a prayer, but hopefully he’ll get a suck along and we can see him roar up the straight. He seems very good. His blood came back super yesterday.”
Tommy Lincoln, the subject of significant offers after his all-the-way opening 1:53.8 win at Albion Park, jumps from 1660 metres to 2138 metres on Saturday but will still be very well fancied to beat the McCarthy rep Ilikemebettor.
Green says he can’t fault the horse who needs only reasonable luck from the second row to be very hard to beat.
Copy That races at 8.43pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
Tommy Lincoln races at 10.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
American Dealer races at 11.35pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
