COVID-19 leaves top owners out in the cold but Merv will be looking for the ‘Blair glare’ on TV

COVID-19 restrictions will keep a number of the leading players from attending cup day at Addington on Tuesday.

NZ Met officials will be struggling to find someone to present the trophy to should either of the first two favourites Copy That or Self Assured win the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.

And if Lincoln Farms’ American Dealer can overcome his second row draw in the $150,000 Woodlands Stud NZ Sires’ Stakes’ Final, they will be similarly frustrated.

Copy That’s owners Merv and Meg Butterworth are stranded in Melbourne along with Self Assured’s owner Jean Feiss, their traditional cup trip thwarted by the coronavirus.

“We usually meet in the Qantas lounge at the airport on the way over and travel on the same flight,” said Merv Butterworth.

Self Assured’s Melbourne owner Jean Feiss with Mark Purdon.“But Jean can’t even come over to our house to watch the cup this year because she lives more than 25km away.”

The Butterworths are resigned to sitting in front of the television by themselves.

“We’re not even allowed to have more than two people visit so I guess we’ll have to drink all the champagne ourselves.”

Butterworth isn’t complaining, however. When Arden Rooney took the cup for them five years ago he recalled being quite tipsy by the time the race was run late in the day, after consuming copious amount of food and grog.

All he could think about during the presentation ceremony was finding the nearest toilet.

“I enjoy watching it on TV more to be honest, no matter what the race,” Butterworth said.

“At the track you can’t see what’s happening on the other side of the track. On TV you understand more about the manoeuvres and can see the drivers’ hands, those who have a good grip on their horses and those who are reaching for help.”

Butterworth really wants to see the TV camera zoom in on Copy That’s driver Blair Orange on the home turn when the leading driver is known for looking behind him and giving “the Blair glare” when he’s in a commanding position.

Butterworth is confident Copy That will acquit himself well, with the best driver in the cart, but he says he hasn’t had so much as “two bob” on the horse.

But it’s been a profitable last few days for “Melbourne Merv” who has already enjoyed watching his well bred trotter Prince Envy score by nearly eight lengths at Invercargill as well as two galloping wins with Edge Of Wonder and Mascarpone at Te Rapa.

Glued to internet in Miami

American Dealer’s American owners Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover will also be glued to the internet from Miami watching the Sires’ Stakes Final.

Banks says they would definitely have made the trip to New Zealand had the pandemic not made it impossible.

“We attended a couple of cup days 15 to 20 years ago, but this one would have been so much more fun with American Dealer running and with Ray Green having the cup favourite Copy That.

“We’d have loved a better draw for the Dealer, but sometimes class horses overcome bad barrier draws.”

The draw is the only thing Green can see stopping American Dealer ($4.20).

“On the second row he’ll be relying on some luck but I think he’s the best horse in the race.

“Mark’s one (It’s All About Faith) will be hard to beat drawn the ace. We’re behind the eight ball trying to get close to him but I think we’ve got Krug ($3.20) covered. He doesn’t look to be coping so well.”

Green says he’s hoping the Steve Telfer-trained B D Joe ($14) might get into a battle with It’s All About Faith ($2.60) to help string the field out.

American Dealer was in terrific order for the race, he said, having bounced out of his Ashburton win and run home attractively, untested, when third in his trial at Addington last Wednesday.