Every second counts as Copy That tackles the Hunter Cup
A few seconds soon after the start of tonight’s A$500,000 Hunter Cup could decide the fate of New Zealand’s best pacer Copy That.
The South Auckland star is the warm favourite for Victoria’s biggest harness race after a remarkable summer turnaround that has seen him win his second New Zealand Cup at Addington, a string of victories off long handicaps in the north and then the A$150,000 Ballarat Cup last start.
Both his New Zealand Cups wins and Ballarat Cup triumph came after Copy That was able to lead, and even though he has barrier six in tonight’s 2760m mobile, the only rival with the gate speed and possible motivation to park him out is former Kiwi pacer Spirit Of St Louis.
He has barrier one and his cotrainer Luke McCarthy has indicated he would like driver Jack Callaghan to hold the lead but whether those wishes resonate should Copy That and Blair Orange come asking serious questions early could determine the outcome of the Group 1.
If Copy That can run to the front again, the race is his to lose. If the two battle early, it could set up the race for a swooper, one of the sharpest being another South Auckland pacer in Old Town Road.
He was luckless when trapped behind a fading rival in the Ballarat Cup but flew home, and while Melton produces few major pacing winners who come from back and wide, he has the raw speed to do something special if the leaders overdose on aggression early.
The pair aren’t the only Kiwi pacing big names racing in Australia tonight, as stablemates BD Joe and Alta Wiseguy, as well as the Dalgetytrained Republican Party, all start at Menangle.
Walker’s run to continue
Trainer Mark Walker is so far ahead on the domestic thoroughbred trainers’ premiership, he could not train another winner for the second half of the season and still win it.
But rather than taking his foot off the pedal, Walker has a realistic shot at winning almost all the major races at both New Zealand meetings today.
In a rare weekend without premier Saturday racing in the north, there are still six-figure races at New Plymouth and Wingatui (Dunedin), and Walker and Team Te Akau have the favourites in both.
Prise De Fer treks all the way to Wingatui, where the weight-for-age scale of the White Robe Lodge Stakes is perfect, as are barrier five and Jason Laking on board, so he looks the bet of the day.
Walker also has Romancing The Stone dropping out of the Wellington Guineas to the $80,000 Dunedin Guineas and her best form would make her the one to beat.
Closer to home, Walker has Belle Of The Ball as favourite in the $100,000 Taranaki Cup, with Self Obsession as back-up, although the latter may find the 1800m a touch sharp.
Walker has a strong hand in the two-year-old race at New Plymouth, with Sky On Fire, Rubicon Crossing and She Turns Heads all talented, but they won’t get things their own way, as Ulanova from the Stephen Marsh barn has real speed.
She was in front for much of the Karaka Million two weeks ago before being run down late into fourth.