Copy That not a starter for Interdominions: neither Ray nor Merv keen on brutal series

Don’t be rushing in to back Copy That for the Interdominion series in Brisbane in December - he won’t be there.

While the dual New Zealand Cup winner was one of 107 pacers nominated for the four-night series starting December 1, and he features on the fifth line of early betting, Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green says the horse won’t be going.

Green entered Copy That only because he couldn’t contact Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth before the closing of entries yesterday, and it cost nothing to nominate.

“But as I expected when I got hold of Merv he wasn’t keen.

“Four races in two weeks is a bit brutal. Back in the day horses used to cop it but nowadays most are more delicate athletes.”

The Albion Park series will see $30,000 heats on Friday, December 1 (1660m), Tuesday, December 5 (2138m) and Saturday, December 9 (2680m), with the 2680 metre final a week later.

“It’s not like you have to be in it any more,” Green said. “There are plenty of alternatives these days and the money’s not even that good. It’s not like there’s a million to the winner.”

Prizemoney for the pacing final on December 16 is A$500,000, with A$286,000 to the winner.

Green said for that reason alone, the series had not been able to tempt any other Kiwi-trained headliners. All Stars’ co-trainer Nathan Purdon said the timing and changes to racing calendars in Australia and New Zealand didn’t suit.

Lincoln Farms could still be represented at the Inters, the first at Albion Park for 22 years, with the last Queensland series on the Gold Coast in 2009.

Green has nominated Simply Sam, who finished runner-up to Fernleigh Cash at Auckland last Friday, and Queensland resident Tommy Lincoln was also entered by trainer Mark Dux.

“Simply Sam will go down to Christchurch with Copy That first - as there won’t be anything for him up here.

“And if he goes over for the Interdoms it will be on a one-way ticket. There are a lot more opportunities for him in Australia.”

Tommy Lincoln, who has won eight races and A$112,000 in Brisbane for Lincoln Farms, has not raced for five months but is back in work.

He was ready to race in August, and trialled in 1:51.8, but slipped in training, pulled a hamstring muscle and developed a haemotoma, which took time to drain.

Just two Kiwi trotters have been nominated for the Inters, the Phil Williamson-trained Love N The Port and eight-year-old Majestic Man, runner-up to Maori Law in the 2021 Interdominion Final at Menangle.

The trotting final will be run for a stake of A$250,000.

Nominations for both the Ladbrokes ID 23 series can be viewed here.