Self Assured, outer, will be Copy That’s main rival again but you can’t discount Better Eclipse, head showing, after his big Taylor Mile.
Message from Ray: Copy That can cop the Messenger no problem, he’s one tough dude
By Barry Lichter • 26 April 2023
Punters needn’t be concerned that Copy That will be having his fourth race in as many weeks at Auckland on Friday night.
Though last week’s conqueror Akuta will sit out this week’s $90,000 Messenger at Alexandra Park, trainer Ray Green says his little champ is bright and ready to go again.
“We considered missing the race but he’s pulled up so well. He could have raced the day after the Taylor Mile.
“He’s got such a natural, strong constitution, he can cop whatever you dish up to him. Nothing worries him. Some horses would curl up with the same programme but he’s very resilient.”
Green says with the $180,000 Auckland Cup not run until May 26, Copy That has plenty of time to recover, the final lead-up not until May 19 when the $45,000 Roy Purdon Memorial (2200m) is scheduled.
Green is more concerned about how he will keep Copy That in top trim after the cup, with no races scheduled here until his proposed trip to Queensland for the July winter carnival.
“I think the carnival-type scenario they’re trying to create up here isn’t very smart - where you have all the good races in the same five to six week window and then there’s nothing.
“They should spread the races over a longer period. How do you keep them up to the plate and get them built up again with no races?”
Green says he and owners Merv and Meg Butterworth won’t decide on Copy That’s exact targets in Brisbane until after the cup but it was possible he could travel over early.
The races carded include:
- June 17: The A$31,768 Lucky Creed (2680m)
- June 24: The A$106,070 Redcliffe Gold Cup (2613m)
- July 1: The A$30,160 Wondai’s Mate (1660m)
- July 8: The A$53,040 Mr Feelgood (2138m)
- July 15: The A$200,000 Sunshine Sprint (1660m) and
- July 22: The A$400,000 Blacks A Fake (2680m)
Green says he has the luxury of being to fly in whenever it suits as Copy That is not the type of horse who needs a week to get over a long trip.
“He accepts it easily. He eats everything put in front of him no matter what. He’s a lot tougher than he looks.”
Copy That will need to be tough again this week, even though several of his usual sparring partners won’t be there.
Green says he won’t miss Nicholas Cage who drained so much petrol out of Copy That in the first 400 metres of the Taylor Mile.
But that’s not to say the opening split of the longer 2700 metre Messenger won’t also be taxing with Australian Better Eclipse and Kango drawn inside him.
“Kango could blast out and we don’t want to have to wrestle the lead off him and then have the others maul us.
“Copy That can do whatever you ask him to do but he doesn’t have to lead. I wouldn’t worry if he settled in behind them somewhere. Even if he sat last he wouldn’t be far off them (in a small field).”
While Green respects Self Assured most, he is also wary of Better Eclipse who was huge last week, beaten only a nose and half a neck and clocking a sizzzling 54.2 despite racing three wide with no cover for the last lap. By comparison Copy That clocked 56.1.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
