Copy That thrills - Ray: He can win another $1m this year; Maurice: He’ll win another cup

It was only Copy That’s first serious hitout in a new campaign but he showed enough to have his connections already predicting another massive season ahead.

The sun was out and trainer Ray Green was liking what he saw as the dual New Zealand Trotting Cup winner glided around Pukekohe in a two-horse 2500 metre workout.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he won another million dollars this year,” Green said after the little powerhouse started from 50 metres and ran down four-win pacer Bet West without raising a sweat.

Copy That’s low heart rate again amazed Green today.“That run hasn’t bothered him at all. You can see how distressed he is,” Green joked as Copy That licked the hose bay wall nonchalantly while his heart rate was taken.

“He’s his usual exceptional self. His heart rate is 68. He really is a remarkable individual. With any other horse at this stage of their preparation you’d be happy if their heart rate was even below 80.

“Maurice (McKendry) timed him to run his last mile and a half in 3:05 which isn’t bad for his first hitout. (The 2500 metres took 3:15.3, a mile rate of 2:05.6, with closing splits of 58.6 and 28.3).

“Maurice said he felt super and reckons he feels stronger than last year. He reckons he’ll win another cup.”

Copy That, who in November will attempt a cup hat-trick to equal the feats of Indianapolis, False Step and Terror To Love, is down to resume in a mile free-for-all at Auckland in 13 days.

With a busy campaign ahead, Copy That is nowhere near screwed down yet, sporting a belly that would attract the overtures of Jenny Craig.

Green takes a burly Copy That out for his first workout.“He is a bit burlier than in previous years. Since he broke his leg (fractured a splint bone) it’s the first and only time he’s had a break of five weeks.

“But he’ll get plenty of opportunity to lose weight, racing and travelling. He’ll obviously tighten up as he progresses and by cup time he’ll be like a whippet.”

Green confirmed Copy That would do most of his cup preparation in Canterbury, having ruled out a return to Australia, which gave the horse a fitness edge last year.

While Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly has taken Kango to Victoria for his cup lead-up, and lines up in Saturday night’s Minuteman Free-for-all at Melton, Copy That won’t be going anywhere near the place, Green said. It was unlikely Copy That would race in Victoria again.

“If it wasn’t for those twits we’d probably have looked at going there. There are numerous races we could have gone in, like the Victoria Cup, but we can’t risk it for fear of being put out again.”

Copy That enjoys a roll after his workout today.Green said no other jurisdiction in the world scoped horses who performed poorly and banned them if blood was found in the trachea, a penalty which Copy That incurred in February when he choked down and was pulled up in the A$500,000 Hunter Cup at Melton.

The insignificance of the episode was proven two months later when Copy That spanked his rivals in the $1million The Race by Grins at Cambridge.

Watching Copy That stroll into his paddock after today’s workout and enjoy a roll, Green again remarked on his rare athlete.

“He’s got everything this horse. He’s fast, he’s strong. He’s got great manners and a great attitude.

“He’s half a brainy horse. I know plenty of people that aren’t as smart as him.”

Major Achievement makes ground strongly down the outer.Close to form

In other heats, Major Achievement looked close to showing form when he came from the rear to finish a neck second to the Telfer-trained Sweet Lou two-year-old Slots in a left-handed 2050 metres.

The heat was cut out in a mile rate of 2:02.9, the closing 800 in 57.9 and 400 in 27.7.

“I’m surprised he hasn’t got a cheque yet. He’ll win one soon. Andre clocked him home in 27.1, and thought he was still a bit fat.”

Major Achievement is likely to trip to Cambridge on Thursday.

Riverboy Ben is collared late by Hawkeye Pierce, with Always B Stunning third.Riverboy Ben looked in good condition to resume when he led his 2050 metre heat for Andrew Sharpe before being photo-finished late by Logan Hollis’ impressive debut winner Hawkeye Pierce.

Simply Sam’s younger half sister Always B Stunning (Zachary Butcher) finished third, a half head and head away, with the last 800 in 57.7 and 400 in 27.4. Two-year-old Downbytheseaside filly Seasidestar (Andre Poutama) finished sixth.

Lenny Lincoln is flying for Nathan Delany.Green’s unraced two-year-old Lenny Lincoln (Vincent - Tristar Brigade) showed he was ready for a raceday start on Thursday when, after trailing in his 2050 metre heat, he attacked Jahi in the run home, coming up just a neck short for Nathan Delany.

The pair closed in respectable sectionals of 57.2 and 27 flat.

Lincoln Blue (Bettor’s Delight - Pop Princess) was 15 lengths astern in third for Ollie Gregory.

Art Major colt Lincoln La Moose (Delany) muffed his qualifying attempt, galloping on the Lincoln Farms’ bend, in a heat won by the Jeremy Young-trained Gladys Greenland in a mile rate of 2:01.8.