Trainer Ray Green using a heart rate monitor, which told him today that Copy That was fighting fit.
Copy That clears out but his quick recovery’s the real pointer to Taylor Mile chances
By Barry Lichter • 17 April 2021
It wasn’t Copy That’s five and a half length winning margin, or even his 55.2 last half that had trainer Ray Green fizzing at Pukekohe today.
Rather it was about 10 minutes after the horse’s workout, when the horse was in the wash bay, that Green knew his horse was ready.
The reading of 73 on Green’s heart rate monitor told him everything he needed to know about Copy That’s chances in Friday’s $95,000 Taylor Mile.
“He’s pulled up in excellent shape. His heart rate was down to 73 and that’s the only true linear guide to a horse’s fitness.
“That reading is pretty normal for him but for other horses it would be exceptional. That’s why he’s so good.”
Maurice McKendry’s report on Copy That: ‘He’s back!”Copy That faced only two rivals in his 2050 metre heat today - Dance Time and Need You Now - and Green made sure driver Maurice McKendry tested the horse.
A week earlier Copy That finished a lacklustre second to his sole workout rival Darling Me, McKendry reporting the horse felt like he needed the run.
“I told Maurice not to pussy foot round and to give the horse a decent hitout,” Green said. “We’re in a Group One race next week so he needed to do a bit so we could see where we’re at.”
The early stages of today’s heat were fairly tame, but when leader Dance Time started running out of juice 700 metres out, McKendry whipped up from the rear to take the lead, which he held for the rest of the heat.
Copy That was full of running at the line, five and a half lengths clear of Need You Now, clocking swift closing sectionals of 55.2 and 26.8 for a mile rate of 1:59.4.
“When Maurice showed him daylight he was in a different class. We know he’s got speed but when Maurice came back his first two words were: ‘He’s back!
“He said he felt like a different horse. We’re in good shape.”
Sugar Apple … American Dealer’s half brother is showing promise.Earlier, talented two-year-old Sugar Apple surprised Green by winning his first workout back from a break under the watchful eye of part-owner Trevor Casey.
Sugar Apple took on seven rivals, including stablemate Louie The Punter, who missed a race on Friday night when the last two races at Auckland were called off because of a power blackout in the suburb.
Driver Zachary Butcher led early then took a trail on Sugar Apple until he was forced 600 metres out to extricate the horse from behind weakening leader Tennessee Honey.
In the meantime Louie The Punter zipped round to the front and over the last quarter the Lincoln Farms pair cleared right out, Sugar Apple coming off his stablemate’s back to score by a head. John Wayne was best of the rest, two and a half lengths astern.
The 2050 metre heat was run in 2:36.5, a mile rate of 2:02.9, with the last 800 in 57.8 and 400 in 28.3.
“I wasn’t expecting him to go that well,” Green said of Sugar Apple, a half brother to the stable’s classy American Dealer.
“He got a bit keen and over-raced so he was getting a bit tired at the finish but it was his first run since February.”
Sugar Apple showed plenty of ability in his first campaign, having a torrid run on debut when three wide to the death, then he surprisingly weakened from the trail in his last run on February 5.
“He was a bit tired that night, coming to the end of it. He still lacks a bit of strength but he’s got ability. Based on his run today he’s not far away but to be fair to him I’ll probably give him one more trial. I’ll just have to see what races are coming up for him.”
Sugar Apple is raced with Lincoln Farms by Casey, his Alexandra Park Lone Star restaurant manager Matt Hooper, Miami’s Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover, Grant Dickey, Duncan Chisholm’s Chissos and Wack syndicate, Ian Kedzlie, and the Green Machine syndicate.
Recent dual winner Captain Nemo finished fourth in his 2050 metre heat but was only two and a half lengths behind winner Darling Me.
The Captaintreacherous three-year-old was driven by Todd MacFarlane, trialling the horse for a potential sale to the United States.
“He went right-handed no problem and Todd said he couldn’t fault what he did.”
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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.
