Ray: Copy That capable of national record if pushed in Thames Cup on Friday night

Could Copy That have gone to the next level?

Are we on the verge of seeing something very special from the dual New Zealand Cup winner?

Is he capable of running a New Zealand record if he has to in order to win at Auckland on Friday night?

All these questions could be answered when the Ray Green-trained pacer lines up on a 30 metre handicap in the Thames Summer Cup.

Green won’t come straight out and declare that Copy That has elevated himself into rarified air in winning his last four starts.

“But I can’t fault what he’s been doing. He’s been spectacular in his last few starts.

“He’s always been a spectacular horse when he’s been on his game, capable of doing very specal things.”

In his last four starts Copy That has:

• Overcome a 55 metre handicap to score over 2200 metres at Auckland, ripping home in 54.7.
• Set a New Zealand record for a standing start 2700 metres of 3:16, coming from a 70 metre handicap at Cambridge to outgun Hot And Treacherous.
• Hammered his New Zealand Cup opposition at Addington in 3:54, the third fastest time in history and
• Trounced his rivals over a mobile mile back at Alexandra Park, running 1:52.3 on a sticky track, one tenth of a second outside the track record and hardly out of second gear.

Copy That is going near track record time, under a hold, as he emerges from the fog near the finish last week.On Friday night, Green says there’s only one horse he’s worried about - and it’s not the two next most highly rated horses on 15 metre handicaps, Hot And Treacheous and Kango.

Green points to up-and-comer Hey Bartender who, rated on 72 all of 48 points below Copy That, looks well placed on the front line to make the champ really work for his 30th win.

“It’s a big test for Hey Bartender but he’s obviously the horse to beat. He’s the up-and-comer and if he can step and James (Stormont) rolls along in front, he’ll be hard to catch.”

Front-running tactics have seen Hey Bartender win his last two starts, finally franking his potential, but with only one win from four standing starts, a question mark hangs over his barrier manners.

With a safe beginning, however, it could be all on and then Star Galleria’s national record of 2:39.7, set in 2018, could be under threat.

In the zone

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he ran a record if he had to because he’s in the zone,” says Green. “They say colts don’t mature until four or later and, rising six, he’s in the prime of his life.

“He has such a big engine and his constitution is very strong. He’s got that high speed which he can carry a lot further than most of the others. His temperament is also perfect and all that combined gives him a big edge.”

Green says Copy That is also fearless and worries about nothing.

“He’s the consummate professional. He’s nice and relaxed and doesn’t beat himself up before a race.

“He can get a bit excited when he sees other horses but that’s never a problem, it’s not like he’s burning energy. He just likes to express himself and have a bit of a squeal.”

Copy That will really have something to squeal about if he can continue his picket fence form line on Friday. He has already run 2:36.4 for the trip from behind the gate, just one second slower than Ultimate Sniper’s national mark, so just what he is capable of from behind the tapes is a mouth-watering question.

Lincoln River … good winning prospect in race two. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lincoln River best of two-year-olds

Lincoln Farms also lines up three nice two-year-olds on Friday with Lincoln River looking the best of them in the second race.

Last week the Bettor’s Delight gelding came with a terrific finish from the back when resuming from a two and a half month spell, swinging four and five wide on the home turn to be pipped only a head.

“He’s always been a nice little horse, he’s just taken a bit of time to come to it and we gelded him recently because he wasn’t concentrating.

“If he repeats what he did the other night, he’ll be very hard to beat. He should win really.”

Green doesn’t see Lincoln River’s pole position as an issue.

“He probably won’t be away first from one but he won’t be far away and Blair (Orange) can work it out.”

Race rival Neptune has a niggly draw of five but has place claims on his tough effort last start when he ran third despite being parked for the last 1600 metres.

“I’d like to see him get a good trip this time. He’s also a very nice colt but he’s not a good colt yet. I still feel he needs to get stronger. He’s not a topliner yet but he has the potential to get there.”

Ideal Kingdom rounds out the night in the last race, drawn six of six but in a very moderate line-up.

“He was obviously in need of the run last time when he had to do a bit too much early,” Green said. “But he’ll be improved here.”

Sent out favourite last week in his first start for four months, Ideal Kingdom could be forgiven for weakening to fourth.

He was gassed at the start to find the lead from the outside of the gate then, when headed, came back round for the retake.

“He’s a good honest little horse, no champion, but neither are his rivals on Friday.”