Copy That is enjoying being home at Lincoln Farms in Pukekohe. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Poser for punters with Copy That racing on Thursday - from 55 metres behind in a sprint
By Barry Lichter • 17 October 2022
Copy That will race at Auckland on Thursday night, despite having a testing 55 metre handicap over a sprint trip.
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green confirmed this afternoon that the reigning New Zealand Cup winner would definitely run to best fit him for the big race in three weeks.
“It’s either that or go to the trials and there’s a big risk we’d end up going round by ourselves,” Green said. “We might as well race for $25,000 on Thursday.
“I dont care about the handicap - if he doesn’t win, he doesn’t win. I expect he’ll tack on - he usually begins well - and get a suck along. Then we’ll see what happens.”
Green couldn’t confirm a driver today for Copy That in the 2200 metre Breckon Farms Pace, not having spoken to Maurice McKendry who is also the regular driver of main rival Hot And Treacherous who is on the 40 metre tape.
Copy That returned home four days ago, very fit from a four-race Victorian campaign which culminated in a sterling fourth in the Victoria Cup, and Green says he has done very little with him since.
“He had a few days off and he’s just been jogging and done a bit of pacework, nothing fast yet. “Tomorrow he’ll have a faster run but not very strong.”
Green says he’ll see how Copy That pulls up after Thursday’s race but he could also be a surprise starter at Cambridge the following week. Cambridge has a 2700 metre stand programmed for rating 55 and faster horses.
“That would set him up beautifully for Christchurch with the cup run 11 days later.”
Copy That is equal third favourite on $9 with BD Joe for the $600,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 8, behind co-favourites Self Assured and Rock N Roll Doo.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Cambridge
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
1.35pm
“This looks a good race for him. We haven’t done anything with him since Thursday but, with natural improvement after such a long spell, he has to be the one to beat.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
3.04pm
“She should be dangerous from two. It was a good effort to sit parked last week and you’d expect natural improvement from that fresh-up run. She’s a pretty good filly.”
Race 5: Commander Lincoln
3.05pm
“Onyx Shard looks a better chance from two but he has the advantage of being hard fit.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
3.29pm
“This is a big drop in class for him and he is definitely the one to beat, on paper. From the inside draw you’re obligated to leave, or risk being crossed, but he gets out okay.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
3.29pm
“It was a better run than it looked last time when she was held up in the home straight. She’s improving dramatically all the time and I expect her to give them a fright.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
3.58pm
“The winning time was only 2:47 last week but It wouldn’t have mattered what time they went, he was going to win. This is harder but there’s no reason he couldn’t do it again.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
4.57pm
“He stands over them on class and you can’t fault what he’s doing. He’s a big winning chance, despite the 35 metre handicap. He’s the only one on the mark so he should step well and be the one to beat.”
