Copy That in super trim for Friday night but Ray’s not getting too cocky just yet

Trainer Ray Green is delighted with the way Copy That is going but stops short of labelling him as a fresh-up winner at Auckland on Friday night.

The benchmark three-year-old takes on older and better performed rivals in the sixth race but that’s not what has Green a little apprehensive.

“They’re tough old horses that he’s up against so it won’t be a pushover but ability wise I’m not afraid of them.

Ray Green … wary of Copy That’s former tricks.“I just know what my horse can throw at you. It’s his antics in the past that mean I’m not oozing in confidence. And you’ve got to remember it’s his first standing start.”

On 20 metres with horses in front and behind him, Green says it’s unchartered territory for Copy That.

The colt began like a toff in his first standing start workout at Pukekohe last Saturday, downing a similar field to the one he faces on Friday night.

“But a trial is a trial. Racenight is another story so I won’t get too carried away just yet. This run is basically to fit him for the derby.”

There’s no race for Copy That next week but a week later he’ll contest the Derby Prelude, before the main event on March 6, the $200,000 Woodlands Northern Derby over 2700 metres.

“He doesn’t have to win this race, and he’ll need to get a reasonable trip to do it, but he seems to be in good shape. I couldn’t fault him in his workout.”

Copy That turned in his best ever workout, leading most of the way and reeling off a 26.8 last quarter to comfortably beat Havtime a neck, without his plugs being pulled.

Two of his main rivals on Friday, On The Cards and Check In came next, three-quarters of a length and a neck away.

Forgotten horse

Green tips Tommy Lincoln as the forgotten horse of Lincoln Farms’ eight runners on Friday night, where he meets stablemate Hampton Banner, a terrific winner last week.

And as impressive as Hampton Banner was, Green reckons at the odds Tommy Lincoln is worth supporting.

“He’s slipped under the radar a bit. If he leads (which he should from one) and is on his game, they won’t beat him.

“He races well fresh and tries very hard so they’ll certainly know he’s there.”

Tommy Lincoln’s form tailed off last November but Green says he was a tired horse and started racing roughly when he was hitting a knee.

Hampton Banner put his rivals away with a brilliant burst of speed last week.While the seven-horse race could turn into a sprint home, Green says the speed Hampton Banner showed last week should carry him right into it.

“In a small field he won’t be far off them turning in and he nailed that lot halfway up the straight last week, then buttoned off.

“It would be foolish to discard him and the bookies will have him the one to beat.”

Hampton Banner, who was three wide and three back down the back straight, looked only a chance when he improved five wide turning in, but put the result beyond doubt inside 100 metres, loafed the last bit and still won by two and a half lengths.

“I knew as soon as I pulled him out that he was going to win,” said driver Zachary Butcher.

Hampton Banner paced 2:42.2 for the 2200 metres, a mile rate of 1:58.6, and has already shown he can go quicker. Last November he clocked 2:39.3 in beating subsequent Victoria Oaks winner Dr Susan.

Man Of Action, who led up the three wide train last week in the same race as Hampton Banner, and fought bravely for fourth, meets only six rivals on Friday in the second race and gets back on to the front row.

“If he repeats what he did last week and things go his way he’ll be very competitive,” says Green.

Lincoln Farms lines up four of the seven runners in the two-year-old race, the last on the card, which features Robert Dunn’s impressive debut winner Passion And Power.

Franco Nandor … nutted right on the line when he paced roughly.But on his excellent first-up performance last Friday, Franco Nandor has to be given a big chance.

The $140,000 yearling exceeded by far Green’s expectations last week, run down in the last stride when he paced roughly and could not be driven out.

“He just put in a couple of funny steps when he got tired which cost him the win.

“He’ll keep improving.”

Green says in his experience horses who only race as well as they train are never much good. It’s those like Franco Nandor, who lift their game when it counts, that excel.

Big improver

Vanquish Stride, too, is a big improver on Friday night.

“He’s a similar type to Franco Nandor and raced better horses when he ran third.”

Despite racing greenly, and having to be steadied in the last 100 metres, the $170,000 yearling by Bettor’s Delight out of fast mare Pemberton Shard finished only 1.7 lengths from winner Platinum Stride.

“He got home well and did everything wrong so with the experience he’s also a chance.”

Zachary Butcher described Prestige Stride as a real trier after this workout last Saturday.The filly Prestige Stride has the advantage of gate one and from there Green can see her getting a two hole trip behind the leader.

“She’s been trialling well and could be right in the hunt.”

Green says Bondi Shake is a likely leader from two on the gate.

“He’s always been a nice horse and he should lead and be good in front.

“But they’re all green horses and the favourite will be hard to beat if she lives up to the hype.”