Merv chuffed as Copy That gets official invitation to A$250,000 Queensland race

Lincoln Farms’ star pacer Copy That has been officially invited to compete in the inaugural A$250,000 Rising Sun in Brisbane in July.

Owner Merv Butterworth and trainer Ray Green signalled earlier in the week their intention to aim at the July 10 feature and today Queensland harness officials announced Copy That had been given a special wildcard berth for the new race for three-year-olds and four-year-olds.

The Group I race is expected to draw the best age group horses from the entire east coast of Australia but Racing Queensland has reserved four spots, invitations to be issued to two three-year-olds and two four-year-olds.

The Belinda McCarthy-trained Expensive Ego was the first to accept an invitation for the 2138 metre race after his Chariots of Fire triumph and Copy That now takes the second guaranteed four-year-old berth after his recent hat-trick in the City Of Auckland Free-for-all.

The connections of New South Wales Derby winner Patsbeachstorm have also accepted a place in the Rising Sun, leaving one more three-year-old invitation to be issued.

Merv and Meg Butterworth celebrate one of Copy That’s wins at Alexandra Park pre COVID-19 travel restrictions.Racing Queensland Senior Harness Racing Manager David Brick said it was exciting to be able to hand out the second and third invitations for the event which will headline the 11 Group I races being run at the new Constellations carnival.

Butterworth was pleased at the recognition given Copy That.

“He has been recognised as one of the top two horses in New Zealand as well as being the best four-year-old in the country.”

Green said the race had a lot of appeal being confined to age group horses and he just hoped that COVID-19 travel restrictions would be lifted before it came time to fly to Australia.

Butterworth has already experienced the disappointments of COVID-19, Copy That looking a shots eye for the New Zealand Derby last year before the race was canned.

“All the ducks could be lining up - right time, right race and right prize money, and hopefully there’s no COVID to spoil it. That would make it nearly impossible. I wouldn’t want the horse and Ray to be separated.”

Butterworth said he was excited about the prospect of taking a really good horse to Queensland, where he had plenty of friends, and especially one capable of winning the big race not just good enough to compete.

Expensive Ego runs second to former Lincoln Farms’ headliner King Of Swing in last week’s Miracle Mile.And it was a good year to have a top four-year-old, with not too many good ones about.

“Expensive Ego, who ran second in the Miracle Mile, is very good and Governor Jujon is the best in Queensland, but there aren’t a lot of other good four-year-olds. One Change is back in New Zealand spelling and you wouldn’t think All Stars would have many there.”

Butterworth has had plenty of success in the Sunshine State previously taking the Queensland and Gold Coast Derbies with Best Deal Yet and the Sunshine Sprint with Motu Crusader.

Copy That, who is scheduled to end his New Zealand season at the Harness Jewels in Cambridge on June 6, is likely to be joined on the trip by crack stablemate American Dealer, whose Florida owners Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover are keen on a Queensland Derby assault.