Ray: Friday night’s Spring Cup is Copy That’s to lose but Covid muddies the path after that

Copy That is thriving in his preparation for the New Zealand Cup and Friday night’s Spring Cup at Auckland is his to lose, says trainer Ray Green.

“I’m more than happy with the way he’s going,” says Green. “He’s first-up but his fitness would be as good as anyone’s. He’s the best horse in the race and is definitely the one to beat.”

Green’s assessment of Copy That ($1.60) comes as he takes his first step on the road to November 9’s $600,000 IRT NZ Trotting Cup, spoiled by starting on even marks in the Spring Cup sprint despite having a rating of 26 points higher than his nearest rival.

Copy That might be starting his cup run later than last year but he still has residual fitness from a tough Queensland campaign when he raced four weeks in a row through July.

“He raced hard in Brisbane with three Group One races in as many weeks. Then he had the tough trip back but he seems to have handled it well.”

Copy That won two of his four starts in Brisbane, including this one over Aussie champion King Of Swing in the Sunshine Sprint. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Copy That had only a week in the paddock on his return and has been prepped with two lead-up workouts at Pukekohe when, while not placed, he has pleased Green each time.

In his first run on September 25 he was badly checked 400 metres from home when Belle Of Montana galloped and last Friday he gave away a 30 metre start to his rivals but was finshing best when fourth to Alta Wiseguy, Bad To The Bone and Christinashavtime, when they closed in the very fast sectionals of 55.3 and 26.

“He was inconvenienced again by Belle Of Montana who put in a few fancy steps on the corner but Maurice was happy with the run and said he was still coming at the finish.”

Green believes that with Copy That’s ability to step fast from a stand he will cross his rivals from seven and can go one better in the Spring Cup than last year when he flashed late to be pipped a head by Mach Shard.

Copy That was back two weeks later and took out the Holmes DG, beating South Coast Arden, but it’s not the path that Green originally favoured this campaign.

Green’s preference is for Copy That to next tackle the $50,000 Flying Stakes at Ashburton (2400m) on Monday, October 25, rather than the $25,000 Holmes DG (2700m) at Alexandra Park three days earlier.

“But the Covid levels have thrown a spanner in the works and I won’t commit to anything until after Friday night.”

Ray Green … hoping for a lifting of the Auckland border restriction.Unless restrictions on the Auckland border ease, Green will not be allowed to travel south to supervise Copy That’s cup preparation.

“It’s hard to know what’s going to happen. He might have one more race up here (the Holmes DG) but I’m not going into panic mode yet. He may stay up here an extra week in the hope that the travel arragements will gete better. I’d even thought of applying for special dispensation.”

The $50,000 Kaikoura Cup (2600m), which has been switched to Addington on November 1, eight days before the New Zealand Cup, could also now come into play.

Green says in the event he decides to send Copy That south anyway, he’s sure race driver Blair Orange can look after him well until he can travel.

Four youngsters drawn badly

Green’s four runners for Lincoln Farms on Friday night have all drawn badly, Bet On The Tiger and Louie LeBeau first cabs off the rank in the second race.

Bet On The Tiger, drawn the insaide of the second row, will be at the mercy of what John Dickie’s debutant The Governess does from the pole.

“He’ll need a bit of luck from there. If he gets a run, he’s a chance.

He’s happy to sit on the pace and hopefully he still can.”

Green admits he was a little surprised at how well the Betting Line colt performed on debut, when he sat parked for most of the way and never flinched in the run to the post, finishing fourth just 1.4 lengths behind winner Miss Montana.

“He’s never felt like the best one we’ve got but he tries hard and he’s obviously lifted his game.”

Green says we won’t see the best of Louie LeBeau for a while given he’s not the strongest two-year-old.

“It will be very hard for him from three on the second row but he’s a terrific little horse with a lot of raw ability. He’ll go an honest race.”

Ardens Horizon’s followers who were looking forward to backing him at his next start would have been gutted after he drew five on the second row in the eighth race.

Sent out favourite on September 24 after some nice trials, the Bettor’s Delight colt was used early in an unsuccessful bid for the lead then sat parked for the last 1600 metres, before weakening to seventh.

Last Friday, at the Pukekohe workouts, Ardens Horizon showed he was in great heart when he sat parked for the last 800 metres and just went down to Friday night’s race rival Tonite’s Delight.

“The draw’s not looking good for him,” says Green. “But we can’t worry about it too much. Sometimes bad draws can work out well, they don’t have to be bustled too early, whereas when you draw well, you’re obligated to put them into the race.

“He’s a good honest little horse, no champion, but he’s a chance with a bit of luck.”

Pasquale draws six in the same race, which is full of chances, and Green says he’s just looking for further improvement from the gelding.

“I thought he was good on debut, from a bad draw, and got home as well as anything. But he’s a very green horse who doesn’t know what’s going on yet.

“If he gets a decent trip he’s a chance.”