Copy That pacing effortlessly during his heat at today’s Pukekohe workouts.
Copy That strips fitter for Friday’s free-for-all and right on target for next month’s Grins
By Barry Lichter • 18 March 2023
Copy That showed he was right on target for next month’s $1 million Race by Grins with a smart workout win at Pukekohe today.
Driven by Lincoln Farms’ stable foreman Andrew Drake, Copy That trailed throughout and, despite being hampered turning for home, finished on well without being asked for his best to hold off the late-closing Old Town Road by a head.
Drake didn’t pull the plugs and told trainer Ray Green that Copy That was powerful at the finish of the 2050 metre heat, the last 800 metres in 56.7 and 400 in 27.4. The overall time was 2:30.9, a mile rate of 1:58.4.
“He’s just a different animal with that mini bit,” Drake said. “He was so relaxed on the back of Bach. Usually he’d have his head hard on the helmet in front.
“When I asked him at the 600 he grabbed the bit and I came off.”
Andrew Drake takes Copy That’s heart rate which was an excellent 79 after today’s workout.But Drake reported Copy That’s run was even better than it might have looked after leader Bach first hung in on the turn, then ran out, locking wheels with Copy That and taking away a lot of his momentum.
Green declared Copy That was on a nice improvement curve and with an excellent post race heart rate of 79 today, he would strip fitter for Friday night’s $45,000 City Of Auckland Free-for-all (mobile 2200m) at Auckland.
Only after that race, his second this prep, would Green decide if Copy That needs another race before his main mission, the $1 million slot race on April 14.
“We’ve got the $45,000 Waikato Flying Mile at Cambridge the week before the Grins race if we need it. Some of those races can be easy, you can get away with cheap fractionals, so it’s either that or a run at the trials, we’ll just play it by ear.”
Grins rival Old Town Road was also excellent, powering home from the back, a head in front of Bach, with a length to Simply Sam, and Chimichurri fifth.
Driver Andre Poutama said Simply Sam trialled in great style in his first run back from a spell.
“I ran home in 27 and he felt really good.”
Simply Sam hasn’t raced for more than three months, given a decent spell after losing a lot of condition after being gelded on his return from Australia.
It is expected Simply Sam will need at least one more trial before he is ready to race.
Neptune (Andre Poutama) is airborne as he leads Lincoln River (Monika Ranger) and Commander Lincoln (Zachary Butcher).Green will throw in a derby nomination on Monday for Lincoln River after he finished best from the trail to beat pacemaker Neptune a neck in their right-handed 2050 metre heat.
Lincoln River (Monika Ranger) clocked 2:35.3, closing in slick sectionals of 56.8 and 27.7.
While Lincoln River will be entered for the $135,000 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby (mobile 2700m) on Friday night, Neptune and Commander Lincoln, who dropped five lengths behind his stablemates, will be nominated for Cambridge on Thursday night.
Ideal Kingdom, outer, comes with the last run to pip Loutenant, centre, and Next To Me.Ideal Kingdom (Poutama) came with the last run to win his 2050 metre heat, run in a more casual 2:37.7, pipping Loutenant half a head with a neck to Next To Me and five and a half lengths to Riverboy Ben.
Onyx Shard didn’t win her mile qualifying heat but showed enough to earn a debut run in Friday night’s $63,000 Delightful Lady Classic at Auckland.
Onyx Shard trailed Brent Mangos’ winner Treacherous Love and was only one and a quarter lengths behind at the line, the mile run in 2:03.1, 800 in 58.2 and 400 in 29.8.
Green said the paucity of starters in the fillies’ Young Guns heats would see Onyx Shard gain a start in Friday’s final and he was sure she wouldn’t disgrace herself.
Onyx Shard (Poutama) trails Treacherous Love today.“She goes nicely and I’m sure she’ll win races. I can’t fault what she’s done.”
Onyx Shard, a Sweet Lou filly out of Delightful Shard, was a $30,000 yearling buy at Christchurch and will be raced by Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton and two of his mates Paul Humphries and Ian Harris.
The black filly is from the family of big winners Sly Flyin and Smiling Shard.
Lilly Lincoln, a distant fourth after an early gallop, and Lincoln Blue, who qualified in running fifth, will both go out for a break now, Green said.
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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.
