Copy That is holding One Change at the finish of tonight’s Derby Prelude at Auckland. PHOTO: Megan Leifting/Race Images
Ray: Copy That knows he’s good now and he’ll eat up the derby distance next week
By Barry Lichter • 28 February 2020
Don’t be fooled into thinking that Copy That will be vulnerable over the longer distance of next week’s Northern Derby just because One Change was making big inroads into his lead at Auckland tonight.
Driver David Butcher was sitting very quietly in the cart behind Copy That up the home straight, one quiet tap the only encouragement the colt needed to maintain a one length margin at the end of the fast-run 2200 metres.
Moments after Copy That won the Derby Prelude in a sizzling 2:37.3, without his plugs being pulled, trainer Ray Green noted the horse had a habit of buttoning off when he had the job done.
“If David had given him a smack on the arse I think he would have cleared right out,” said Green. “He’s not only got high speed but a big engine as well - he can carry that speed a long way - and 2700 metres shouldn’t worry him at all next week.”
Green said Copy That was a very laid back individual at home but “puffed himself up” when he got to the races.
“He’s turned the corner and is starting to know he’s good.”
Butcher also reported Copy That had woken up to how good he is, tonight’s win his seventh in all and third from his last four starts, each time beating the All Stars’ One Change.
“When they’re winning all the time they start believing and he knows. That first race woke him up.
“We were really going quick early tonight, he had to do a little bit to get round them, then he was attacked (by Flying Even Bettor) in front.
“But he’s got real speed.”
Copy That’s time was faster than the New Zealand three-year-old record of 2:37.6 set by Have Faith In Me in December, 2014, a time since eclipsed by Ultimate Machete, who paced 2:36.1 in 2016.
It represented a mile rate of 1:55.1 and with closing sectionals of 56.2 and 27.9, the first two horses home skied away to a four and a half length margin over third-placed dead-heaters Tommy Lincoln and Flying Even Bettor.
Lincoln Farms’ Man Of Action also cemented his place in the $200,000 Woodlands Derby next Friday night by running fifth, clocking 2:39.
More news in Harness
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Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
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’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’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.”
