Copy That is an old hand at travelling now but for Simply Sam and Argyle it’s their first big trip.
Copy That ogled at airport as Lincoln Farms’ trio arrives safe and sound in Melbourne
By Barry Lichter • 1 September 2022
Copy That, Simply Sam and Argyle have arrived safely in Australia, a little tired but seemingly happy in their new surroundings at Ballarat.
Trainer Ray Green was at Yabby Dam Farm on the outskirts of the town at 10pm last night to welcome Lincoln Farms’ trio after their 10-hour door-to-door journey from Pukekohe.
And today he took Copy That and Simply Sam out for a quiet jog, opting to leave Argyle in his paddock, looking around, eyes bulging, at the impressive panorama.
“Argyle looked a bit more tired than the other two - a big journey like that can be stressful for them first time.
“They didn’t eat up last night, mind you I didn’t expect them to, but I think they’ll be fine in another two or three days. I won’t do anything serious with them until they’re over the trip.”
Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth’s first report on Copy That from his float driver Grant Campbell brought a smile to his face.
On arrival at the airport in Melbourne at 7.15pm, Campbell said the New Zealand Cup winner caught the eye of fellow truck drivers as he crossed the tarmac.
“They thought the horse Grant was leading was a thoroughbred because he looked sensational, and they wanted to know who he was.”
Butterworth said Copy That’s splint bone fracture last December could have been a blessing in disguse and hopefully he might now show “he is better than best and more likely a super horse.”
Green said he heard people had been drooling over the horse, who has really matured during his injury-enforced break, but tempered the observation by saying “it’s not a beauty contest.”
Green would rather see the horse judged by his performance in the $100,000 Melton Classic in nine days, the first of three, or possibly four races in Victoria, culminating in the $300,000 Victoria Cup on October 8.
Green says Simply Sam and Argyle are likely to start their Victoria Derby campaigns a day earlier than Copy That, at Ballarat on September 9.
Simply Sam, rated 76 in Australia, will contest the A$15,000 Holloway Classic for three-year-olds while Argyle, rated only 67, could either join him or run in a rating race for A$10,000.
Green said he was lucky to be stabled at Pat Driscoll’s lavish property, where he helped trainer Anton Golino when stranded by Covid on his last trip to Victoria with Copy That.
“It’s a great facility, mind boggling, and cost millions. They’ve got two treadmills, a walker, a 50 metre pool, a 1200m straight line track another 1000m track, a 10km jog track and even a vet clinic where they can do surgeries.
“It’s a big operation. There are a lot of thoroughbred yearlings and weanlings running round the paddocks and the whole place is about 700 acres (280ha).”
Green said he wouldn’t want for anything during the campaign which was away to a safe start.
“So far, so good.”
More news in Harness
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Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
