Hooray Henry, inner, levels with Copy That close to home.
Copy That undone by pork belly but Ray has two months before the cup to find those ribs
By Barry Lichter • 15 September 2023
Looking at Copy That’s porky belly as he dried the horse off, trainer Ray Green revealed his first-up defeat at Auckland came as no real surprise.
“His best races have been when you’ve been able to see a hint of all his ribs. He’s as fat as a pig at the moment.”
Collared a head in the final few strides by Hooray Henry, Copy That continued a run of fresh-up defeats, despite being allowed to dawdle through the second quarter of the mile in 34.5 seconds.
But though the clock showed a pedestrian 1:58.7, neither Green nor driver Maurice McKendry were disappointed in the run, his first for three and a half months.
McKendry said it was only over the last few metres that Copy That ran out of condition.
“We buzzed out of the gate and even though we got it easy in the mid stages, we were buzzing again down the back.”
Copy That is gifted a 34.5 second quarter, with Hooray Henry on his back.Attacked hard in the lead by Magic Four, Copy That sped through the third quarter in 27.5, before running 27.1 home for a lightning 54.6 last half.
“He was pacing beautifully and pulled up well, hardly blowing at all.”
Green said he was “pretty happy” with the run.
“I knew he’d be vulnerable first-up and I wasn’t confident of winning. I didn’t want him 100% at this stage of his cup prep - there’s still two months to go.
“And that horse (Hooray Henry) was hard fit after racing through the winter.”
Green said the result would have little bearing on Copy That’s immediate programme and he was leaving his options open.
Way forward cloudy
“The way the fields are up here we can’t make a hard and fast plan.”
Ideally, the horse could stay in the north for next Friday’s $25,000 Spring Cup (2200m stand) and the $25,000 The Holmes DG (2700m stand) on October 6.
“But if they can’t guarantee that the Spring Cup will go ahead on the 22nd we might just load up and head south.”
Copy That could then tackle the Group II $60,000 Canterbury Classic (2600m stand) at Addington on September 29, a race earmarked for the return of fellow cup favourites Akuta and Self Assured.
After that things get a little more tricky, Green not keen on the Group II $60,000 Ashburton Flying Stakes (2400m stand) on October 23.
“I don’t like that race. It’s a tough race so close to the big one. I’ve seen so many fall over by using that race as a last hitout.”
Kaikoura Cup day not for Copy That.Green said he was certainly not entertaining the Group II $60,000 Kaikoura Cup (2400m stand) on October 30 as an option.
A new race programmed at Addington on Friday, November 3, five days before the traditional cup trial, and 11 days before the $650,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup was an option, with R80 to R120 horses eligible.
Green remains relaxed about the path forward.
“He’s had two completely different preparations in the last two years and still won the cup both times.”
In 2021, Copy That had only two lead-up runs and, when his final race at Auckland was canned, Green put the winning polish on the champ with a virtual solo trial, running the fastest time recorded at Pukekohe.
Last year, after he fractured a splint bone and was out for eight months, Green put the miles into him with one race at home, four in Australia in September and October, and another two back home, finishing with a New Zealand record win from a 70 metre handicap at Cambridge.
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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.
