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Blair Orange, not surprisingly, sticks with Copy That over The Big Lebowski in Friday’s Auckland Cup.

One more hit-out for Copy That tomorrow and he’ll be primed for Friday’s Auckland Cup

Copy That is in good order for Friday night when he will have only eight rivals in the $180,000 Auckland Cup.

Though Copy That hasn’t raced for three weeks, Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green said he felt right up to the mark when he drove the horse on Saturday.

In company with Simply Sam, the dual New Zealand Trotting Cup winner worked over a steady 2400 metres in 3:12, asked to sprint only over the final 400 in 27.4.

“The track was pretty bad but he felt pretty good and pulled up well,” Green said..

“He’ll go again tomorrow. We’ll work over a mile in 2:10, nothing exciting. He doesn’t need any more.”

Copy That hasn’t raced since finishing runner-up to Self Assured in the Messenger on April 28, timed to run home in 53.7 and 26.8.

Meanwhile, new stablemate The Big Lebowski has been confirmed a cup runner with Tony Herlihy to do the steering.

“There aren’t many big race drivers better than Tony,” Green said.

The Big Lebowski created a huge impression in his first start at Alexandra Park last Friday, skying away to an 11-length win for driver Blair Orange who, not surprisingly, sticks with Copy That.

The all powerful Mark and Nathan Purdon stable will also have two runners with Akuta, scratched last week with a foot abscess, joining Self Assured behind the tapes.

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 Green

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 Green

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.”

Dan Costello Race Photography