Bring on the Victoria Cup, says excited trainer after Copy That smashes rivals at Melton

Trainer Ray Green believes Copy That is clearly the one to beat in the A$300,000 Victoria Cup after he smashed his rivals at Melton tonight.

In a dominant display, the New Zealand Cup winner left the field standing on the home turn in the Gammalite Free-for-all, clearing out to win as he pleased at the lucrative odds of $4.

Expected challenges from the first two favourites never eventuated, Lochinvar Art galloping at the start before sitting parked and weakening to sixth and Bondi Lockdown fifth, showing no fight after leading, both runs queries by the stewards.

Lochinvar Art was scoped and it was discovered he suffered a grade four lung bleed. He was stood down for 28 days, ruling him out of the Victoria Cup.

Green said while he was excited at the ease of Copy That’s win, it was also a big relief.

“I didn’t really know where we stood after his last run but now I’m pretty confident we’re on target.

“He did that easy. We’ve just got to keep him healthy and happy now and we’ve got every chance of pulling the major race off.”

Green praised the drive of Nathan Jack who, from one on the second row, eased into the running line to follow Lochinvar Art round the field, securing the perfect one-one sit.

“We couldn’t have wished for a better trip than that. He’s the best horse over here but at this level you still need luck and we got it tonight.

“Nathan said he switched off halfway up the straight. But I warned him he might do that and he had to keep driving him.

Ray Green … “we’re lucky to have him.”“He rushes up to them and when he gets left in front he can switch off in a heartbeat. He’s nearly got himself beaten a couple of times like that.”

With Jack on to Copy That’s little quirk, the chasers never got close, runner-up Crime Writer and third-placed Bettor Be The Bomb no threat in the run to the judge.

Copy That cruised to the line to score by 3.6 metres in a 1:54.2 mile rate for the 2240 metres, the closing sectionals in 56.7 and a comfortable 29.2.

Jack was later reported as saying Copy That gave him the kind of feel which only really good horses do.

“I was lucky enough to drive Im Themightyquinn, but that was a different sort of feel. Quinny was just a fast horse, where this horse feels a lot stronger. He feels exceptionally good.”

Green said the prospect of having Copy That right back to his best was very exciting.

“He’s pulled up really well too. You wouldn’t know he’d been out there. He’s dragging me around now as he’s cooling off.

“He’s got a great constitution, nothing worries him. He’s fearless and we’re lucky to have him.”

It was Copy That’s 25th win from 49 starts and took him within sniffing distance of the $1 million mark, his bankroll totalling $986,165, most of it for Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth.

Green said he’d take a slightly conservative path now with the American Ideal five-year-old before the Victoria Cup on October 8.

“We could go to the Kilmore Cup next week as he’ll be the least disturbed by tonight’s race - those horses behind him will be gasping for air.

“But we’ll look after him a bit now. His best option is that race a week before the Victoria Cup.”

Green likes the Group II A$50,000 Smoken Up Sprint because it is only over 1720 metres, compared with the 2690 metres at Kilmore, and is closer to the 2240 metres of his grand finale in Victoria.

Green said he was pleased that all three horses he is campaigning in the state for Lincoln Farms have now won - Argyle won his opener at Melton and Simply Sam scored on Friday night at Shepparton, both three-year-olds aiming for the A$200,000 Victoria Derby on October 8.

Copy That and Simply Sam are then slated to return to New Zealand for the New Zealand Cup and Derby, Copy That still a $9 third fancy in the TAB futures market for the cup.