Copy That has two lengths on American Dealer at the finish of his smart workout at Pukekohe.
Ray frustrated at lack of races for Copy That and may be forced to go south to Addington
By Barry Lichter • 19 July 2020
Trainer Ray Green may be forced to trek to Christchurch to find races for star three-year-old Copy That, a smart winner at Friday’s Pukekohe workouts.
Green was frustrated that Copy That missed a start at Auckland last week when only he and Parker were nominated for the higher class event.
And Green says he can see the same thing happening again on Wednesday week when the next meeting is scheduled at Alexandra Park.
“The horse needs racing to find his top form and things don’t look very promising for him up here.
“I’ll have a talk with Merv (owner Merv Butterworth) but it’s looking more like we’ll have to race at Addington. Brian Rabbitt rang the other day to say they’ll be holding races for his class down there.”
Driver Maurice McKendry asks Copy That to step out soon after the start.Copy That has raced just once post COVID-19 when stand-in driver Maurice McKendry pulled him up mid-race after he started hitting the sulky wheels and bolted.
McKendry was in the cart again on Friday when Green instructed him to make sure the horse shed his lazy ways on the training track.
While he could not match the brilliant early gate speed of stablemate American Dealer, Copy That quickly worked forward for McKendry to take the lead after 300 metres.
And from then on he was never seriously tested, easily shrugging off the advances of Mighty Looee 400 metres from home and finding a nice sprint when tapped up in the run home.
Copy That had a two length margin on American Dealer at the post, running the 2050 metres in a slick 2:31.5, a mile rate of 1:58.9. He cut out his final 800 metres in 57 and 400 in 26 flat, much too speedy for his six rivals.
American Dealer, scratched from his race at Auckland last Wednesday because he was under offer, fought on well for a two-win horse.
He passed a vet inspection last week and the deal is expected to go through on Monday after results of a blood test are known.
Larry Lincoln … made up a big slice of ground after an early break.Larry Lincoln earned a following for Cambridge on Thursday night when he lost a huge stretch with a gate gallop yet still rounded up all but one of his seven rivals in the rating 40 to 57 heat.
Green said the horse, who is normally a very fast beginner, took exception to a ridiculously slow mobile start.
“It looked like they were waiting for a straggler. He got pulling and galloped when they finally dropped the clutch.”
Larry Lincoln, taken to the outside of the track, lost all his momentum and was a conservative 75 metres from the leader when Andre Poutama got him underway.
“Andre never really asked him to run but the little fella’s got a lot of speed so I’m not surprised he picked them up.”
At the post Larry Lincoln was only a length behind Afortunado, the leader clocking 57.2 and 27.4 for his final sectionals. The trip took 2:33.6, a mile rate of 2:00.6.
Fellow Cambridge candidate Apieceoflou had no luck in his maiden heat, also run left-handed.
He began well for Poutama from the second row and settled fourth in the early running before being three back for the last lap.
The Sweet Lou two-year-old was badly held up turning for home by the tiring Lincoln’s Gem and, after scrambling to negotiate the turn, the leaders had got away by the time Poutama could extricate him.
“Andre had to nurse him because he was hanging a bit on the corners,” said Green.
The heat was dominated by the Steve Telfer trainer pair of Secret Deal and Major Mac who covered the 2050 metres in 2:33.8, a mile rate of 2:00.7, with the closing splits in 58.1 and 27.7.
Strong Cambridge contingent
Apieceoflou really caught the eye with a paralysing home stretch sprint at the last Cambridge meeting and will be part of a strong contingent Green is looking to race there this week.
Others in contention are three qualifiers from the Lincoln Farms’ camp at Auckland last Wednesday - Louie The Punter, Brian Christopher and Aurora Stride.
Louie The Punter, who has been on a good improvement curve in the last month, led all the way for Zachary Butcher to hold Brian Christopher by a long neck.
Aurora Stride, a Somebeachsomewhere filly owned by Emilio Rosati, showed courage to lead her three rivals and fight back when headed to nose out Supasundae.
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.
