Copy That is just entering picture shot after starting from 55 metres behind at Auckland.
Copy That out to create modern day history again - this time from 70 metres behind
By Barry Lichter • 25 October 2022
Copy That will attempt on Friday what no other pacer in the last 42 years has achieved - win from a 70 metre back mark over 2700 metres.
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green confirmed today he would go ahead with plans to run Copy That at Cambridge in what will be his final lead-up to the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.
And he is not fazed by the fact the horse will start from such a long handicap in the rating 55 front race.
A rating 120 pacer, he will have to give 20 metres to his biggest rival Hot And Treacherous (R89) and 50 metres to the next highest rated Rough And Ready (R67).
“But he’s effectively gone back only five metres on last week when Bunty Hughes’ horse had a 15 metre start on him.
“Sure, it’s a big handicap but it’s not so terrible. He’s always stepped well, but he’s getting quite slick at it now.”
Copy That had the measure of Hot And Treacherous after only 100 metres at Auckland last week, when he flew the tape and his No. 1 rival galloped away.
His effort to win untested, unleashing a dazzling home stretch sprint from near last, saw him become the only pacer in the last 42 years to win from a 55 metre handicap over the sprint trip of 2200 metres.
Six other pacers have registered wins from 55 metres, but five of those were at 2700 metres - Kate’s First, Agua Caliente, Alta Serena, Sir Lincoln and On The Cards - and one over 3200 metres - Delightful Lady.
No pacers since 1980 have contested 2700 metre races and won from 70 metres. Two have scored from 60 metres - Agua Caliente at Auckland in 2000 and Zenola Seelster at Cambridge in 2012.
“They don’t give you any extra money when you win off these marks do they?” Green joked.
“I’m not worried. It’s hard to know what will happen. You can’t predict anything in a standing start race but he should go well.
“And it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t win a $16k race - we won’t go hungry.
“The object of the exercise is to give him his last hitout before the cup. It’s either go down to Cambridge on Friday or go to the trials where in all likelihood he’d have to run by himself.”
Green says with last week’s winning pilot Blair Orange expected to drive at Methven the same day, it’s likely Zachary Butcher will keep the seat warm behind Copy That on Friday night.
Butcher has driven Copy That four times for four wins.
Meanwhile, Copy That’s owners Merv and Meg Butterworth will be trying to achieve another rare feat with Sacred Mountain and She Reigns earlier in the night.
The pair are co-backmarkers on 55 metres in the fillies’ and mares’ trot, run over 2200 metres.
In the last 42 years only four trotters have scored over the sprint trip from such a long mark.
* Silver Stream won from 55 metres behind at Otaki on January 17, 2016
* Aspiring Lass won from 60 metres behind at Cambridge on May 8, 1993
* The Expatriate won from 70m behind at Invercargill on February 16, 1991 and
* Majestic One won from 80m behind at Otaki on February 3, 2019.
A total of 173 horses have scored from 55 metres behind or further since 1980, 158 of them trotters.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.58pm
“Drawn out wide makes it tough over 1700 metres but he’s been making his own luck. He’s not brilliant out but if he pushes on to be handy he’s got to be a big chance again. He needs to be up there on the pace or he doesn’t try too hard.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.57pm
“You can’t fault what Sugar Ray’s been doing lately, and he’s been getting out with them, so he has to be a serious chance from the inside.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.57pm
“Kev and Sugar Ray are pretty much on a par. Kev never goes a bad race, he’s just such a professional.”
Race 7: Johnny Lincoln
8.23pm
“He’s been racing too keenly but he won’t pull this time. We’ve got a different bit on him so Maurice will have him under control.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“He’ll need to get stronger and you couldn’t see him beating Fugitive from the outside of the arm.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.48pm
“It will be interesting to see what she can do from a good draw - she’s got some speed and if she holds up early she’ll get a good trip. But she, too, needs to get stronger.”
