Copy That gets the dreaded visitor’s draw - but Melbourne Merv’s bullish he can pull it off

Copy That’s task in Saturday night’s A$250,000 The Rising Sun just got a lot harder.

By the worst of luck, Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green drew 13, the outside of the second row, for his charge at tonight’s barrier function at Albion Park.

Under the special conditions of the inaugural feature which reserves the two inside spots for three-year-olds, that means Canterbury hero Krug gets the coveted pole position whereas Ray Green’s charge gets one of the worst draws over the mobile 2138 metres.

The McCarthy powerhouse Expensive Ego drew two on the second row, following out the final wildcard inclusion Kashed Up.

Kiwi mare Amazing Dream will start from three, getting the good spot courtsey of the preferential age/sex conditions.

Copy That’s owner Merv Butterworth, who watched the draw live on television from his Melbourne home, says he doesn’t believe it will make any difference to Copy That.

“They drive like rabbits in Queensland. They like to go stupid early so they can wave to mum and say ‘look at me in the lead’.

“I have every confidence that Ray and Anthony Butt can still get the job done.

“Ants will sit back and wait for the moves and, with Copy That’s brilliant sprint, I reckon he’ll finish over the top of them, just like he did last Saturday night.

“If we’d drawn four we would have been forced to lead and then we’d have been attacked repeatedly.

“Good horses can come from bad positions in fast-run races.”

Butterworth also believes Expensive Ego will struggle to dominate from his second row draw.

“He has only one way of racing. He’s only good when he’s up pushing near the lead. He likes to get round them quickly and wear his rivals into the ground and I don’t see him getting that opportunity.”

Krug will also need a top Blair Orange drive to score, he says.

“I doubt Krug will have the early pace from one.”