Torrid trip just too much for Copy That at Cranbourne but Ray turns the page
By Barry Lichter • 19 December 2021
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green will get Copy That blood tested tomorrow but doesn’t expect to find anything to explain his career worst run in Saturday night’s Cranbourne Cup.
“He just had too tough a trip,” said Green matter-of-factly today. “We’ll just have to turn the page.”
Green, who arrived a day late and under Covid restrictions wasn’t permitted to go to the track, had to drive 30km to see the race in a Kilmore TAB and said it was a very hard watch.
Copy That had to use plenty of petrol early as he was five, four then three wide round the first bend before driver Chris Svanosio blasted forward to try to wrest the lead from Amazing Dream.
But Svanosio quickly backed off when Anthony Butt quickened and sat parked until General Dodge pressed forward soon afterwards to give him cover.
But a couple of hundred metres later Svanosio left the one-one to take up the death seat again where he stayed until putting up the white flag on the home turn.
Ray Green … “I’m sure he’ll bounce back.”“He was still there on the corner but you could see he was struggling,” Green said.
“Chris gave him a slap and, to his credit, when there was nobody home he didn’t drive him up the straight. But it was still sad to see him drop out.”
Copy That ran last, 36 metres behind winner Supreme Dominator and 20 metres behind the second last horse with the mobile 2555 event run at a 1:57.8 mile rate.
“We told Chris to drive the horse aggressively but that was too much for him to deal with.
“We won’t worry about it. The horse is a little tired this morning but seems to have pulled up fine. He’s eaten everything. I’ll take a blood tomorrow to see where he’s at and he’ll have an easy two or three days.”
Green is confident Copy That can bounce back.
“He has a good constitution and looked beautiful going into the race.”
Copy That was to have had his next race in the Bendigo Cup on January 8 but Green says he’ll just play it by ear.
The horse seemed to be settling in well to his new surroundings at Svanosio’s Romsey stable even if he was a little bit more aware of his colt status than at home.
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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.
