Copy That, three off the markers, is swallowed up by Self Assured and Akuta, wider out. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Que sera sera - Ray turns the page on Copy That’s Cup run and focuses on Queensland
By Barry Lichter • 26 May 2023
Driver Blair Orange knew as soon as he hit the lead early in the home straight that Copy That wasn’t going to win tonight’s $170,550 Auckland Cup.
“I asked him to get on the bridle turning in and he didn’t lift like he normally does,” said Orange after Copy That peaked late to finish two lengths fourth to Akuta.
It was a scenario which came as no surprise to Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green who was worried even before the horses lined up behind the tapes that his charge might be a run short.
And when Copy That started rearing and prancing, and made his slowest beginning in ages, with only stablemate The Big Lebowski behind him early, Green knew the $2 million earner was facing an uphill battle.
Orange had no option but to stay back for the first half of the race as “they went hammer and tongs” up front, favourite Self Assured having to bail out of a bid to head leader Kango.
“But they really back it off at the mile and that was my chance to get round and handy.”
Kango leads a lap from home with Copy That parked.On a slow 32.3 quarter, Orange quickly reined Copy That around the field to sit parked 1200 metres from home.
“If we’d sat back we’d have had to give Akuta and the others too much of a start,” Orange said.
“He felt good in the running but was just a bit short (of fitness) and it told in the end.”
Green said all things considered he was pretty happy with the run.
“He hadn’t raced for a month - I couldn’t even trial him (because of the change in with-holding times). Training is one thing but I would like to have had him harder. That was his achilles heel tonight. He was healthy as hell but there’s no substitute for race fitness.”
Copy That still fought like the champion he is, losing third right on the post to Smiffy’s Terror but still just a neck and half a head from runner-up Self Assured.
The overall time was a sedate 4:00.5, with the closing 800 in 57.1 and 400 in 28.2, sectionals well within Copy That’s playbook.
“Que sera sera. We’ll just move on. We’re still on target for Queensland. We might even go a bit earlier to get a race or two into him before the big ones.”
Copy That beats King Of Swing and Rockin Marty in the 2021 Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Copy That has a smorgasbord of features available to him in Brisbane throughout July including the:
- A$30,160 Wondai’s Mate (1660m) on July 1
- A$53,040 Mr Feelgood (2138m) on July 8
- A$200,000 Sunshine Sprint (1660m) which he won in 2021, on July 15 and
- A$400,000 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship (2680m) on July 22.
Green wasn’t surprised to find Copy That’s heart rate after the race was 88, a tad higher than when he’s at peak fitness, compared with the excellent 79 reading of new stablemate The Big Lebowski.
Champion reinsman Tony Herlihy reported The Big Lebowski spoiled his chances turning for home when he hung very badly, preventing him from improving wider on the track.
“He went down and ended up hard on Copy That’s back at the line.”
Though he beat only one home in eighth spot, the giant pacer was just 3.5 lengths from the winner.
“Maybe we should be taking him to Brisbane too,” Green said.
The way Akuta won, albeit from a perfect trip, it’s fair to say Green is happy that co-trainer Mark Purdon has already ruled out a Brisbane campaign for the four-year-old.
Akuta had not raced wince winning the Taylor Mile on April 21, then missed last week’s Roy Purdon Memorial with a foot abscess.
More news in Harness
‘The Kid’ flying but Argyle up against it to add good points in novel drivers’ challenge
Street’s emotion-charged night in the winners’ room - sad loss before a record four wins
It’s green jackets all the way and Ray fancies improving surprise packet Prince Lincoln
The Lincoln Wave secret is well and truly out now, but who was that mystery underbidder?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.
