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.
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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.
