The official photo finish gives Copy That, inner, a narrow margin in the Sunshine Sprint.
Merv puts $1 million tag on Copy That, Ray enjoys one of the best nights of his career
By Barry Lichter • 17 July 2021
Owner Merv Butterworth has put a $1 million price tag on his superstar pacer Copy That, narrow winner of a thrilling Sunshine Sprint in Brisbane tonight.
In one of the closest and most exciting finishes seen at Albion Park, the Lincoln Farms’ speed machine held off swooping late sprints by King Of Swing and Rockin Marty in a nose and nose photo finish that even Copy That’s driver Anthony Butt could not pick.
The effort prompted owner Merv Butterworth, stuck in Melbourne, to rank the horse in the top few in Australasia and he revealed that bloodstock agents had tried to buy him during the week.
“The Americans asked me to put a price on him and I said $1 million. They coughed.”
Butterworth said he didn’t believe the price to be inflated.
“He’s earned nearly $600,000 in only 31 starts and in half of those he didn’t know how to race.
“But you can’t get too carried away with tonight’s win - he didn’t beat a field of champions, only one. But he’s got to be ranked in the top three in Australasia now.”
Copy That, inner, just lasts to beat King Of Swing, middle, and Rockin Marty.Butterworth said while he’s enjoying racing Copy That “if you put a $1 million on the table and I looked out and saw the horse in the paddock I’d take the million.
“He hasn’t done enough yet to be rated my best ever horse. He has more high speed than Arden Rooney but that horse was a super stayer.”
In 50 starts Arden Rooney won 21 races and $1.07 million, $665,000 of that from the New Zealand Cup and 2015 A G Hunter Cup.
“Copy That hasn’t earned over $1 million yet like Arden Rooney and how else do you measure it?”
Butterworth praised driver Anthony Butt for the confident way he drove Copy That - “parking those horses three wide.”
After being outsped from five on the gate, Butt managed to expertly manoeuvre Copy That into the one-out one-back possie.
But when Colt Thirty One started to mount a run from the back Butt was out quick as a flash to go up to breeze outside pacemaker Turn It Up.
Anthony Butt brings Copy That back after another masterful drive.And Butt said afterwards his faith in the horse allowed him to hold that position and park the three wide train.
When Copy That kicked strongly early in the home stretch he thought he would hold his rivals.
“Then in the last couple of strides it got really close and I didn’t know if I’d won.
“The world’s at his feet now. His manners are getting really good - he’s becoming a professional racehorse.”
Butt said winning next Saturday’s A$250,000 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship would not be easy.
“King Of Swing was massive tonight and it will come down to luck in the running.”
Career highlight for Ray
Trainer Ray Green rated the achievement of winning the Sunshine Sprint with Copy That and South East Derby with American Dealer as one of the best of his career.
“They don’t come much better than that.
“I didn’t know if Copy That had won until I saw the photo - it was close but he got the job done.
“He’s a serious Grand Circuit horse now, up with the best of the best.
“We’ve just got to try to do it again next week.”
Copy That ran the 1660 metres of the Sunshine Sprint in 1:55.9, a mile rate of 1:52.4, the sectionals off the front in 27.5, 28.9, 28.5 and 27.6.
The A$59,850 winning stake for his 21st win took his earnings to A$584,597.
More news in Harness
Emotional night at the Park as Sammy Lincoln steps up for John and his sister Maree
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
