Cop That! Kiwi champ’s ridiculously easy win in Ballarat Cup augurs well for the big one

Trainer Ray Green believes Copy That stamped himself as clearly the best horse in Australasia when he scored a “ridiculously easy” win in tonight’s A$150,000 Ballarat Cup.

“They didn’t even get a smell of him,” Green said after the dual New Zealand Trotting Cup hero led all the way to win untested by 2.8 metres, easily staving off late challenges from Honolua Bay and Triple Eight.

“That was the easiest looking win he’s had for the last six months. When I heard he’d run his second quarter in 30.1 I thought ‘how are they going to beat him’.

“And I knew on the corner when they were all off the bridle that they wouldn’t catch him. He left them to it.”

Green said even though the commentator got a little excited when Triple Eight zipped out of the pack, it took only one flick on Copy That’s bum by driver Blair Orange to see the horse pick up again - “and it was see you later.”

Green said Copy That once again showed he was nigh on impossible to run down.

“He’s never been beaten in front when he’s been able to get there easily. Even Self Assured hasn’t been able to get him at home.”

Copy That was credited with a time of 3:15.7 for the mobile 2710 metres, a mile rate of 1:56.2, with closing splits of 28.7, 30.1, 28.8 and 27.3.

“I’m thrilled for the horse. It’s a different Copy That this time to the previous trip to Australia (when he was coming back from injury and four months of confinement).

“You always worry before a race like this, however, after a big trip but that was ridiculously easy. And it’s looking good for further down the track.”

Copy That should now start a clear favourite for the A$500,000 A G Hunter Cup at Melton in a fortnight when there will be few newcomers to take him on.

Old Town Road turned in one of the best runs in the race for fifth, closing late out wide.One who wasn’t in tonight’s Cup but will be there next time, Expensive Ego, was beaten into second at Menangle tonight.

“He’s a good horse but he lacks a yard of speed and has to take it to them,” Green said. “But even if he sits outside Copy That it won’t worry him. He loves that. He lets them come right up to him.”

Green was rapt for stable foreman Andrew Drake, who has been looking after Copy That on the trip and Orange, who has had few opportunities to drive in Australia and was scoring only his third win across the Tasman tonight.

“Blair is so cool under fire. You could see him looking across and thinking: ‘Where the hell are they?”

Rare cross code double

Copy That’s win gave his Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth a rare cross code cups double after grey galloper Riot And Rose, whom they race in a syndicate, took out the A$50,000 Camperdown Cup for trainer Peter Moody.

That was a first for the Butterworths who have won more than 1000 races including Group features and big cups, more than enough reason to uncork a few champagnes last night.

Merv Butterworth described Copy That’s win as “pre-written.”

“Everything went to plan and when I spoke to Blair afterwards he was very happy that they allowed him to dawdle along in front.

“I reckon that was his easiest win.”

Fellow Kiwi Old Town Road ran an eye-catching fifth, making ground late out wide for driver Zachary Butcher to be 8.2 metres from Copy That at the line, without ever looking a threat.

Former Kiwi Cranbourne dropped out from the trail to finish eighth and the well backed Rock N Roll Doo beat home only Major Meister who spent plenty of petrol early to sit parked.