Green army v Blue army: Copy That to increase his 2-1 lead over the All Stars’ One Change

Copy That holds a 2-1 lead over One Change in the Green army v Blue army battle and may just have a fitness edge over his rival in Friday night’s Northern Derby Prelude at Auckland.

Lincoln Farms will line up three of its three-year-olds in the forerunner to next week’s $200,000 Woodlands Derby, after the scratching of Hampton Banner who has been sold to Perth,

But while Tommy Lincoln will scoot to an early lead and Man Of Action is an improving last-start winner, neither has the ability of Copy That who has been in sublime form since he missed by half a head to catch One Change in last November’s Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington.

In two clashes since Copy That has had the better of the All Stars’ rep - smashing his rivals in the Northern Stakes, with One Change two and a half lengths away in third, and claiming the Alabar Classic by a head over One Change.

Ineligible for the Sales Series Final on New Year’s Eve, Copy That went to the paddock while One Change proved much too good for Bad To The Bone.

Ray Green … hoping for some fun in the next few weeks with Copy That’s owner Merv Butterworth.Copy That resumed two weeks ago against the older horses and showed he had really come of age when a close third behind Check In and Gambit, sitting parked in a very fast 2:42.7 for the standing start 2200 metres.

His winning workout at Pukekohe last Saturday further enhanced his claims when he was untouched to beat a distinguished lot in Dina Brown, Star Galleria, Belle Of Montana and Triple Eight.

In the meantime One Change has trialled twice, a late closing fifth at Ashburton behind stablemate Dina Bolt and leading over the last lap to beat Pocket Watch at Rangiora on February 12, the 2000 metres run in a tame 2:00 mile rate.

On Friday night Copy That draws six, one inside One Change but trainer Ray Green won’t even hazard a guess on how the race will be run.

“I’ll leave that up to the drivers. Sometimes they can crawl in these small fields but Tommy Lincoln should hold up in front and he likes to roll along.

“Copy That’s not far from being on his A game but it’s not imperative he wins this race. He doesn’t need much screwing down but he has a bit more distance next week and the derby is the one we want to win.

“I don’t think One Change will be short (on fitness). Mark and Natalie have all the facilities at All Stars and the cup horses to train him with.

“But I’m very happy with where Copy That is and hopefully we’ll have some fun with him in the next few weeks.”

Green doesn’t give Tommy Lincoln or Man Of Action much chance of beating Copy That. “But they’re good honest horses who won’t be far away.”

Prestige Stride hitting out well for Zachary Butcher in a recent workout at Pukekohe.Green also describes Young Guns fillies’ candidate Prestige Stride as honest but can’t see how she could beat Robert Dunn’s hot favourite Passion and Power who has drawn one inside her at two.

“I can’t imagine Robert’s filly being beaten. She’d have to gallop or be knocked over to lose. But our filly is good enough to lob a place. Her first start (for fifth, 7.4 lengths behind Passion And Power) was good and she’s training and trialling well.

“She’s a nice filly who will be in the hunt.”

Five of nine starters

Green lines up five of the nine starters in the Young Guns heat for colts and believes any of four of them could win.

And while stable No. 1 Zachary Butcher has elected to drive Steven Reid’s debut winner Mr Fantastic, a lead Green says you can’t ignore, he makes good cases for his charges.

David Butcher gets the feel of American Dealer whom he drives on debut on Friday night.The most interesting is newcomer American Dealer who debuts from two, with David Butcher at the reins.

“He’s the perfect little racehorse, such a tradesman. He does nothing wrong but just how good he is we don’t know yet.

“It’s his first time off the place and his first go under lights so we don’t know how he’ll perform, but I’m sure he’ll go well.”

David Butcher’s place behind pole runner Franco Nandor is taken up by stable junior Andrew Drake.

“Franco Nandor has improved immensely and trained really well this week. I’m sure he’ll develop into a really nice horse and he will get his chance from one.

“He got way too far back (from six) last time but this time he’ll lead.”

Franco Nandor led on debut and went under by a nose to Mr Fantastic, losing the race only because he paced roughly close to the line.

Bondi Shake showed what he could do in his second race, leading until monstered by Passion And Power down the back straight and fighting on well for an albeit distant second. Andre Poutama retains the drive.

Platinum Stride beats Challenger in his last start at Auckand last month. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Platinum Stride is the best performed of the quintet but will need a good drive from Maurice McKendry to salute from the outside of the gate, his worst draw in three race night starts.

“But there’s only nine in it so he won’t be far from them and he has a good sprint. He hasn’t been asked to do anything too fancy in his last couple of trials but he won’t be far off them.”

Vanquish Stride, the only runner on the second row, looks like he’ll need a hot pace to feature for Shane Butcher, judging by his recent workouts.

Third in both his starts, he has raced greenly but battled on strongly, forced to do plenty of work behind Passion And Power and Bondi Shake last time.

“But we’re still learning about all of them. Until you put them through all kinds of different circumstances you can’t get a good line on them. It’s a learning curve for us and them.

“I think we can win it, but it will be the one who gets the best trip who does.”

Green, on the other hand, doesn’t think Zealand Star can feature in the fourth race against far better rated rivals, even though he has been trialling strongly.

“There were no other races for him and he has to start somewhere.”