Ray’s pair ‘ready to go’ but Ashburton runs are mere belt-tighteners for the main event

Copy That and American Dealer are nicely primed for their missions at Ashburton on Monday ahead of their flight south on Thursday.

Copy That starts from the outside of the front row in the standing start Ashburton Flying Stakes (2400m) while American Dealer fared much better drawing the pole for the fifth Sires’ Stakes heat, his main rival Krug widest in the seven-horse field.

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green gave the pair strong hitouts at Pukekohe last Wednesday and reported both worked well.

Copy That looked good running 2400 metres in 3:08, sprinting his last 800 in 56.

“He had a big, heavy cart on so it was good work.

“The other fella didn’t go quite that hard but he did what I wanted.”

The pair trained together this morning without being asked for much.

“There’s not much I can do between now and Ashburton - they’re ready to go and I’m happy with where they’re at.

“Copy That’s main mission is the cup, of course, and this Ashburton run is just a lead-up, a glorified training run. But it’s the first time he’s run into the All Stars’ horses and they’re obviously the ones to beat.

“It will give us an idea of how competitive we are.”

The Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen juggernaut lines up New Zealand Cup favourite Self Assured, second favourite Spankem and recent Australian arrival Ashley Locaz.

Waikato horseman David Butcher will continue his association with American Dealer in the Sires’ Stakes heat, drawn to get all favours either in the lead or trail.

The only other serious prospect, the All Stars’ It’s All About Faith, is alongside him in gate two in the mobile mile.

Copy That is the $6 third favourite for the $540,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 10 while American Dealer is the $7.50 third favourite for the $150,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final the same day.

How they line up in Monday’s features at Ashburton: