Copy That super in first try at stand - how good will he be now he’s found his manners!

Copy That signalled he will be a formidable rival for not only the three-year-olds but the older pacers at Auckland in the next month when he led most of the way to easily win the fast class heat at today’s Pukekohe workouts.

In his first attempt at a standing start, Copy That began flawlessly for driver David Butcher, taking the lead off On The Cards after 600 metres and being untested to maintain his advantage at the end of a very impressive 2500 metres.

With Butcher sitting quietly in the cart, Copy That kept pulling out more as the challengers arrived in the run home, credited with a neck margin over Havtime (6 wins) at the line, and reeling off his last 400 metres in a flashy 26.8.

Copy That is travelling easily, leading On The Cards in the trail.On The Cards (9 wins) was three-quarters of a length away in third, with a head to Check In (9 wins).

Copy That ran the trip in 3:13.1, a mile rate of 2:04.3, giving Butcher a great feel and pulling up with his plugs still in.

“He paced away super and raced really relaxed. And he picked himself up just enough to hold them at the finish.”

Best of all Butcher reported Copy That was perfectly behaved, the silly stuff that previously proved his undoing on occasions absent.

Green had a noticeable spring in his step afterwards, noting Copy That had a low heart rate of 75.

“He’s always had a good recovery rate - he’s such a relaxed little horse - and he’s maturing mentally too, morphing into a stallion not a naughty colt .

“He’s full of confidence and now that his manners are coming to him he’s going to be pretty formidable. The derby distance won’t worry him and that looks an extremely realistic goal now.”

The $200,000 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby (mobile 2700m) is run on March 6 and Green says he’s feeling the excitement at having a real contender.

“He’s the real deal, the kind of horse we’re all looking to find. It makes getting up in the mornings easier.”

Copy That’s derby preparation begins at Auckland on Friday night when, thanks to a sensible programme change, he will now tackle a standing start race for rating 65 and higher pacers over only 2200 metres, not the original 2700 meres.

Green vented his frustration on HRNZ’s northern handicapper Kevin Smith last week, pointing out the ridiculousness of being unable to find a suitable race for the country’s benchmark three-year-old in the derby lead-up.

Happy to take on the older horses, but not keen on racing over 2700 metres three weeks on end, Green now gets the chance to improve on the horse’s fitness this week - against a field of horses similar to the one he beat pointlessly today.

“They’re the best horses he’ll have to face and he handled them well enough today. I was pretty sure he’d step. I gave him some practice during the week and he was really good. He’s a rapid-going little fella and it seemed to come naturally to him.”

The standing start did not come naturally to Zealand Star who turned on a rodeo display, rearing high repeatedly for driver Andrew Drake and tailing the field throughout.

Tommy in for good innings

Tommy Lincoln … surprise package last season.Earlier, Tommy Lincoln showed he could be in for a good season when he finished best to take the mobile 2050 metre heat for up-to-rating 61 pacers.

Tommy Lincoln began fast for driver Zachary Butcher who then eased him back to fourth before starting his move at the 600 metre mark, jumping into the one-one.

Sweeping up three wide turning for home Tommy Lincoln proved too strong for Brent Mangos’ pacemaking Double Up, getting the call by a head on closing sectionals of 57.7 and 27.3. The overall time was 2:36.1, a mile rate of 2:02.6. Mimi E Coco was only a head back in third.

Green said Tommy Lincoln had improved dramatically in recent weeks and he was expecting a big run today from the horse who had trained well during the week with Copy That and had him “flat” one day.

“He could be a nice horse this time in. He’s certainly turned the corner - he’s holding his condition much better than he used to. He dropped weight last time but he’s much stronger and more robust now.”

Green will race Tommy Lincoln at Auckland on Friday night when he says he won’t be surprised at what the horse can achieve.

“He defied logic last time in. I couldn’t believe it when he won his first race and I was gobsmacked when he won his third.

“I didn’t think he was that capable but he was winning on sheer, unadulterated tenacity.”

Green lined up two babies in the two-year-old heat over 2050 metres, both Prestige Stride and Vanquish Stride owned by Sydney’s Emilio and Mary Rosati.

Zachary Butcher urges on Prestige Stride as Vanquish Stride looms alongside and Passion And Power runs wide.Young Guns berth booked

Prestige Stride earned a start in the next Young Guns fillies’ heat on February 28 with her professional performance to run second to Shezadeal in the open 2050 metre heat.

After first trailing then running third, the Sweet Lou filly was left flat-footed when the sprint home went on, according to Zachary Butcher, but picked up and finished hard to be only one and a half lengths away.

“She’s a real trier,” said Butcher.

Vanquish Stride is not so much of a trier, just yet, and has always been one to do only what he has to, says Green.

David Butcher reported the $170,000 sale yearling was better behind the gate today, after being reluctant to approach it last time, but he had to make him pick up from back in the field.

The smart looking Bettor’s Delight - Pemberton Shard colt eventually featured in a blanket four-way finish for second, a neck behind Prestige Stride and dead-heating with Greatest Showman for third.

The winner paced the trip in 2:40.7, a mile rate of 2:06.2, with the last 800 in 60 and 400 in 28.5.

Vanquish Stride would have raced last Friday night but developed a snotty nose during the week.

“I didn’t want to risk him because he had some breathing issues early on,” said Green.

“But he’s good to go now and will be in the next two-year-old race.”

Vanquish Stride finished an improver’s third on debut at Auckland on January 24, spoiling his chances by racing greenly but hitting the line very well.

“He’ll get better and better and live up to his fancy pedigree. The horses who only do what they have to usually end up being good racehorses. And he’s a Bettor’s Delight so you never know what you’ve got until you race them.”

David Butcher took it quietly today on American Dealer.Tame but willing

American Dealer prevailed in a tame heat for the unqualified two-year-olds, the 2050 metres run in 2:45.1, a mile rate of 2:09.6.

David Butcher never put the American Ideal colt under any pressure, leading his two rivals throughout and running home in 60.2 and 28.8.

At the line American Dealer had only a head margin on Rock Hard and Brent Mangos, Butcher allowing his rival to get alongside before asking him to do just enough to get the judge’s call.

“I only turned the stick and he was ready to up and race.”

Rock N Roll Heaven colt Jeff Beck was three lengths away in third but doing his best work at the finish, Zachary Butcher clocking him home in 28.5.

Jeff Beck would have been right in the hunt had he not paced roughly when the pace went on and lost several lengths.

Green said he had a few little issues to sort out with the colt, Butcher suggesting they use a pole on him next time, rather than a rein bar which he did not respect.

“He’s not the end product yet but he’s getting there slowly.”