Kango is rattling home but Copy That (Maurice McKendry) has the City Of Auckland Free-for-all sewn up. PHOTO: Megan Liefting.
Maurice set for bonus drives on Copy That after the Pukekohe pony delivers again
By Barry Lichter • 5 March 2021
Top driver Maurice McKendry is expected to retain the drive behind eftpos machine Copy That when he treks south for his next assignments in a few weeks.
McKendry teamed with Lincoln Farms’ star at Alexandra Park tonight for his 17th win, telling trainer Ray Green the horse bagged the $45,600 City Of Auckland Free-for-all quite easily despite having to work hard to find the front.
Under normal circumstances McKendry would have vacated the seat behind Copy That when he trekked to the South Island where owner Merv Butterworth favours using the country’s leading driver Blair Orange.
But Orange is under suspension for failing an alcohol test before the start of the races at Motukarara on January 24 and cannot drive again until after April 5.
Copy That’s next target is two days before that, April 3, the Group I $100,000 Breckon Farms/All Stars Racing Easter Cup (3200m) at Addington.
And Green says it’s likely he’ll give the horse a lead-up race a week earlier at Addington in the Group III $30,000 Teltrac Free-for-all (mobile 1980m) on March 26.
“We’ll be having a look at that race in the next few days - we’ve got a bit of time up our sleeve - but I’d say he’ll run. It would be a big ask to have a month in between runs before a 3200 metre race.”
Merv Butterworth … more relieved than excited.Green admitted that both he and Butterworth were more relieved than excited after Copy That’s latest win, the eighth time McKendry has saluted on the horse.
“A lot is expected of the horse now and even though he stood over them on paper, you wonder if for some weird reason he won’t deliver. So it was more a relief when he got the job done.”
Copy That was forced to work overtime early, when caught three wide round the first bend, but McKendry pressed forward to find the front by the end of the back straight.
“He had to pay his dues to get the lead but he got away with murder in the middle stages and it was very clinical after that,” Green said.
The expected home stretch challenge from second favourite Christianshavtime, who was left parked, was short lived and it was left to the improving Cambridge pacer Kango to run Copy That to one and a quarter lengths.
Copy That’s winning time was only 2:40.3, but he zipped home in 56.5 and 26.8.
The win took Copy That’s career tally to $358,629 from 33 starts.
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Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
