Copy That rockets home to all but catch Old Town Road. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Ray: Copy That’s explosive finish should have the Aussies quaking in their boots
By Barry Lichter • 19 August 2022
Copy That is in the top four fancies for the Victoria Cup after his explosive finish at Auckland on Thursday night.
In his first start since fracturing a splint bone in Australia last December, Copy That had both seasoned driver Maurice McKendry and Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green reaching for superlatives after he had to race four wide for the final 600 metres and still thundered home to get within a neck of winner Old Town Road.
Bookmakers in Australia now have the New Zealand Cup winner very safe in their futures markets for the October 8 feature, one leading outfit rating him the $8 third equal fancy with Lochinvar Art behind only Spirit Of St Louis ($5) and Bondi Lockdown ($6).
Green, only partly tongue-in-cheek, said “the Aussies would be quaking in their boots” after seeing the run. With Copy That so wide while the eventual winner was racking up closing sectionals of 56.1 and 27.1 on the markers on a slushy track, Green said the effort showed just how much stronger the horse is this time in.
“It’s a shame he got humped four wide round the turn or he’d have won. I couldn’t fault anything about his effort, I couldn’t be happier.
“He’s pulled up so well too and that was his first start for eight months so he’ll only get better. There aren’t many as good as him.”
All smiles in the camp as driver Maurice McKendry and trainer Ray Green ungear Copy That last night.McKendry echoed Green’s belief that this would be Copy That’s best season.
“He seems so much stronger now, even in training he’s doing it so easily.
“Even though he was four wide I was just sitting on him, as he was travelling so well, and in the straight he just went whoosh.”
McKendry reported Copy That was beautifully settled at the 2200 metre starting point and stepped brilliantly from his 30 metre mark, much better than his No. 1 rival who galloped away from 10m and settled just one spot in front of him.
“I was nearly going to follow Zac (Butcher) when he went round on Old Town Road (1150 metres from home), but it was my horse’s first run back.”
In the wet and blustery conditions McKendry chose instead to make one later run on the horse and was rapidly overhauling Old Town Road at the finish, a terrific feat given the overall time was not fast at 2:45.3, a mile rate of 2:00.8.
“Geez, he’s gone good Ray,” McKendry repeated several times while helping to ungear the horse.
With no racing at Auckland next week and the next meeting on September 1, Copy That will not race again in New Zealand before he flies to Melbourne on August 31.
He is scheduled to have his first outing in the A$100,000 Melton Classic (mobile 1720m) on September 10 where a win would see him break through the $1 million earnings barrier. He sits on $968,575.
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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.
