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Six will do us just fine, says Ray of Copy That’s Hunter Cup draw for Saturday night

Copy That should get his chance in Saturday night’s A$500,000 A G Hunter Cup at Melton after drawing barrier six, says trainer Ray Green.

“That’s pretty good, he’ll be able to make his own luck from out there,” said Green.

“It could have been a lot worse, like on the second row, where you’re at the mercy of the others.”

Green said with five runners inside him, Copy That should be able to stay out of trouble in the 2760 metre summer feature.

“He won’t get crossed in a hurry and, though there’s a bit of speed inside him, I’m not worried at all about that draw.”

Green rated Honolua Bay one of the hardest to beat after the Emma Stewart-trained runner drew four on the gate. Honolua Bay rushed home from well back for fourth behind Copy That in the Ballarat Cup at his last start after drawing the outside.

Fellow Kiwi Old Town Road again fared badly, widest on the second row, seeing him soften to the sixth line of betting at $12.

Copy That retained favouritism at $2.60 in the first Australian market, with pole runner Spirit Of St Louis promoted to second favourite at $4.20.

Hurricane Harley, drawn to trail Spirit Of St Louis from the inside of the second row, is third fancy at $7 along with Expensive Ego, alongside him.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 9: Kevin Kline
9.55pm

“When Maurice asked him to go at the top of the straight at Cambridge he got lost and didn’t quite know what to do. He wound up well in the end but just left it a little late. He’ll learn from that and should go well again.”

Race 10: Debbie Lincoln
10.22pm

“She has ability but she’s a work in progress. She’s fast but she needs to harness it. She gets a little claustrophobic when they come around her so the mission on Friday will be to get round without her doing anything stupid. She’s a much stronger individual now than when she started off in April.”

Race Images - Harness