Copy That, right, in playful mood with Simply Sam at Lincoln Farms.
Cup hero Copy That fighting fit for Friday night’s mile at Alexandra Park
By Barry Lichter • 2 December 2021
Don’t for one moment think New Zealand Cup champion Copy That won’t be fit enough to win Friday night’s mile at Alexandra Park.
While it will be 24 days since he scored his dominant win over 3200 metres at Addington, Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green says the little flyer is right up to the mark.
“He jogged for a week at Ken Barron’s before flying back and had only a couple of days off before he was back into it.
“I haven’t let him down and he’s felt good in training.”
Friday night’s mile looks a perfect springboard for Copy That’s Australian summer campaign, which will start on December 18 in the Cranbourne Cup, three days after he flies to Melbourne.
Ray Green … It’s never easy from the outside of the gate over a mile.“But he can’t treat them with contempt this week,” says Green. “It’s never easy from the outside of the gate over a mile - they’re all nice horses at this level - but he’s clearly the best horse in the race. Hopefully Maurice (McKendry) can give him a decent trip but I won’t be giving him any instructions.”
Rated 120, compared with his closest rival, 89-rater Dance Time, Copy That has a terrific sprint record, winning twice over 1609 metres, twice over 1700 metres and twice over 1660 metres in Brisbane, where he downed Aussie champ King Of Swing in a 1:52.4. mile rate.
His fastest at Auckland was a five length 1:58.4 annihilation over 1700 metres, a mile rate of 1:52, just three tenths of a second outside Mossdale Connor’s New Zealand record, set in winning the 2015 Taylor Mile.
Darling Me, who starts from the coveted ace draw on Friday night, holds the national mares’ mark for 1700 metres of 1:57.8, a mile rate of 1:51.4, set on the fast Ashburton circuit in October.
Ashburton was also the scene of the national 1609 metre mark of 1:50.6 set by Border Control in 2013.
Copy That won’t have to run that fast on Friday night but may have to sit parked if McKendry makes a mid-race play. Dance Time is a gate flyer and likes to lead as does Need You Now who won June’s Four-Year-Old Diamond at Cambridge from the front in 1:53.3.
Friday night’s race will probably be the only one here for Copy That, says Green who will accompany the horse to Melbourne where he will be stabled with Chris Svanosio at Romsey, 45 minutes from Melton.
“I’d like to be with him from the get-go. I’d feel uncomfortable not being there for his first run. It’s hard to know what I’ll be doing after that, the Governmant doesn’t know what it’s doing with the Covid rules so I’ll just have to play it by ear.
“But I’m not concerned at all about the home front, they’re all good boys at the stable and Andrew Drake will be in charge, he’s a good organiser.”
Major Grace … ran the second fastest last mile last week. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Place chances
Lincoln Farms will struggle to win with its three other runners on Friday night, Major Grace and My Copy in the opener and Louie The Punter in the fourth race.
“I’d like to think Major Grace can get some place money if things go her way,” says Green.
“She’s a good honest little filly who does nothing wrong but just lacks a yard of speed to be a topliner.”
Major Grace ran a solid fourth first-up last week, clocking her last mile in 1:59.7, the second fastest in the race behind winner Forever A Dancer despite being worked on from as far as 400 metres out.
“Gate two helps on Friday. She likes it in front so I’d be very happy to see her lob there.”
“I couldn’t label My Copy either but he can also get some money. I was very happy with the way he went on debut, he just struggled a bit round the corners, getting in a bit. Maurice had to nurse him but thought he let down pretty well in the straight.”
My Copy, a half brother to Copy That, raced three deep on the marker and finished on well for fourth, only 2.4 lengths behind winner Some Chevron.
“He’s not a bad horse but like Major Grace is just green and not that strong yet. It’s just a time thing with them, I’ll keep poking them out there and hopefully they’ll improve.”
Green says from his six draw it won’t be easy for Louie The Punter who led out from two last week.
“I hope Maurice can find him some cover, I’d hate to see him hung out all the way.
“He went well last week, despite running last of five, getting home in 55.3. It was just a shame the other horse (Bettor Listen) sat outside him and gave him a hard time over the last lap.”
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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.
