Copy That, at the rear, has a hopeless task in last year’s cup after a shambolic start which saw Self Assured, leading, gifted a flyer. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.
Redemption time in the cup as barrier draws favour Copy That over main rivals
By Barry Lichter • 8 November 2021
Trainer Ray Green wouldn’t bet on a standing start race on principle but on Tuesday he can’t see why anyone would want to support IRT New Zealand Cup favourites Self Assured or South Coast Arden.
While his horse Copy That has drawn beautifully, wide on the front line, the other two favourites are stranded out the back, Self Assured two on the second row and South Coast Arden wider out and slightly behind on the unruly mark.
“Self Assured and South Coast Arden will need a lot of luck to get a good trip,” says Green. “We’re in a much better position on the front, we step well so should be quite a few slots in front of them when they settle.”
Green sees it as justice that Copy That might be able to get the front soon after the start on Tuesday, given that his chances evaporated last year when an atrocious release saw the horses drawn in left badly flat-footed while the ones out wide, most particularly Self Assured, somehow got away with a flying start.
Last year’s cup start drew widespread condemnation and resulted in the replacement of starter Peter Lamb. Copy That, on the inside, was one of the worst affected.“What happened last year was bad for the game. It should never have happened and it did irreparable damage to harness racing.
“They did the right thing by replacing the starter straight after that but it stuffed up the whole race.”
Green is comforted by the fact new protocols have been adopted this year and replacement starter Ricky Donnelly will demand the entire field stands properly before activating the tapes.
“Mark (Purdon) is a very good driver but he’s at the mercy of everybody around him this time with Self Assured and will need a lot of luck. If he doesn’t get it, he’s dead in the water just as we were last year.”
Purdon has noticeably had Self Assured on the move each time he’s begun well this campaign and in most cases it has been with no rivals near him.
On Tuesday, with only the unruly runners outside him, it’s dollars to donuts Purdon will attempt to move out from two on the second row and attempt to follow through either Matt Damon in three or Classie Brigade in four, who are both nippy beginners.
Self Assured, left, and South Coast Arden, middle, will both need a lot of early luck. PHOTO: Addington Raceway.“If Self Assured ended up getting a good trip, he’d be hardest to beat. I don’t take him cheaply at all, he’s a great horse - we were underbidders on him at the sales. I respect him to the max but he only fell in at Ashburton, walked and sprinted up the straight.”
South Coast Arden will also need a lot of luck, says Green, given he has been rearing before his recent stand starts.
“I thought he looked a tired horse in the Kaikoura Cup and I don’t think he’ll be a problem for us, but he might be a nuisance at some stage of the race.”
Green says he doesn’t wish bad luck on any of Copy That’s rivals.
Johnny-on-the-spot
“I’d like to see them all step and for it to be a good race. But I can see trouble early for some and then Classie Brigade will be Johnny-on-the-spot.
“He’s not as brilliant as Copy That, Self Assured or South Coast Arden but he’s a reliable beginner and an honest warrior. Everything points to him leading out and taking a trail on Copy That. If he follows us, he’ll get a really good trip and if something goes wrong with the favourites, he’ll be all over them.”
Green says it’s not surprising that after Self Assured, Copy That, South Coast Arden and Classie Brigade the next most favoured horse is at $41.
“The others deserve to be at $41 and longer. It’s a bit like the Melbourne Cup this year, two thirds of the field were plugging handicappers and the class horses came through.”
Ray Green … dislikes the New Zealand Cup and would like to see 3200 metre races, and even 2700 metre races, phased out.Green makes no secret of the fact he dislikes the New Zealand Cup and says it survives only because of tradition.
“I’d like to see 3200 metre and 2700 metre races phased out. We’re desperately short of horses and they’d back up more often if we didn’t have long races and the horses would last a lot longer.
“Thank goodness they don’t run 3200 metre races too often, it’s not compatible with the breed, you could say even harmful. We should be tailoring things a lot more to the new breed not sticking with tradition for the sake of it.”
Green says the way cup week is structured with horses asked to compete in a free-for-all three days after the cup, they are left knackered for a couple of months afterwards.
“There’s no way Copy That will start in the free-for-all. He has Miracle Miles and all sorts of other races to target. I’m not going to gut him by racing him twice down there.”
TOMORROW: What punters are betting on.
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.
