Purdon rates Copy That ‘something special’ after he thrashes Messenger rivals

Harness racing great Mark Purdon gave Copy That the ultimate accolade after the star pacer notched his Group One double in tonight’s NZ Messenger at Alexandra Park.

Purdon made a special visit to Lincoln Farms’ stable quarters after the race to congratulate trainer Ray Green on Copy That’s dominant win over Bad To The Bone and his own drive Amazing Dream who couldn’t get closer than 2.2 lengths at the finish.

“Copy That could be the best horse in the country,” Purdon said. “He’s something special.

“It’s good to have a horse like that, it’s good for the game.”

The statement is especially significant because Purdon, who is on a training sabbatical but still helps trainer Hayden Cullen, prepared topliner Self Assured to win the New Zealand Cup last November.

Copy That has Bad To The Bone well covered in the Messenger. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Green was gracious in receiving the praise and said he believed Copy That was every bit as good as Self Assured.

“Disregarding the New Zealand Cup which was a debacle, Self Assured hasn’t been able to get past him. And I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.”

Maurice McKendry, the country’s second most successful reinsman behind Tony Herlihy with 3306 wins, described Copy That as “freaky” tonight.

“He was brilliant, better than last week (when he won the Taylor Mile). He got stronger as the race went on and at the half I knew nothing would catch me.”

McKendry acknowledged Copy That got away with a cruisy early section, able to assume the lead without being challenged and then allowed to stroll through the lead time in what commentator Aaron White called a ‘gentle’ 1:24.8.

Maurice McKendry has driven 3306 winners but none better than Copy That whom he describes as ‘freaky’.But even when Bad To The Bone loomed alongside him with a little more than a lap to run, McKendry said the horse felt incredible.

“When Zac came alongside on Bad To The Bone I thought: C’mon, make a race of it.

“My horse was hard on the bit. It was like he was thinking ‘just give me some track to work with’.

“He does it so easily, he shuffles over the ground and next minute you’re going a 26 quarter.

“And he was so strong to the finish. I looked round and could see everything struggling.”

It wasn’t surprising that Copy That had a one and a half length buffer at the line as he reeled off a closing half in a staggering 54.2, home in 27 to record 3:18.8 for the mobile 2700 metres.

“Sir Lincoln went 3:19.5 in winning the Auckland Cup,” McKendry said of Lincoln Farms’ former headliner. “He’s just gone 3:18.8 and he did it so easily. And look at him, he’s just about recovered already.”

Trainer Ray Green, on the phone to owner Merv Butterworth, with Lincoln Farms business manager Ian Middleton.Green laughed at the suggestions in some quarters that 2700 metres was too far for the horse.

“2700 too far for him? You reckon? He’s got such a big engine it allows him to carry his speed so far.”

Green revealed he actually thought Copy That might still have been a little pretty (fat) for the Messenger.

“But I could see a hint of his ribs and he races best that way. He’s actually got taller and I think he’s still improving. He could easily win a million dollars.”

Tonight’s $52,250 purse took the son of American Ideal’s career tally to $463,129, all but $19,824 of it for Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth.

Trevor Casey has Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth on the phone as he accepts the trophies.Green, whose wife Debbie bought the horse for just $7000 and sold him after he had won two races, said he was rapt the horse was performing so well for the Butterworths.

“Merv’s a great owner and I’m glad he’s winning like this. It’s a dream come true for Merv and Meg, they’ve been buying horses for donkeys years but never had one like this.”

A death in the family kept the Butterworths in Melbourne tonight but Merv kept tabs on celebrations in the hospitality room listening in through a mobile phone held by friend Trevor Casey who accepted the trophies.

Through Casey, Butterworth thanked Lincoln Farms and Green for the expert training of Copy That.

Green said Copy That deserved to win plenty more Group One races and would get the opportunity in the months ahead.

“He should have won two derbies (Copy That was a desperately unlucky second in the Northern Derby and Covid saw the New Zealand Derby canned last year).”

Copy That returns after his 19th win.Next will be the Four-Year-Old Emerald on Harness Jewels day at Cambridge on June 6, a Group One mile which he holds a mortgage on.

“It would be nice to get another race into him before the Jewels. We’ll play it by ear and see what’s available in the next few weeks.”

Then it will be all systems go for a tilt at Queensland’s winter carnival riches, where he has been invited to contest the inaugural running of the A$250,000 The Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 10, when he will clash with New Zealand’s other rising star, exciting three-year-old Krug.

That, says Green who is already working on getting his Covid-19 vaccines, should be a race going a long way to see.