Stewards fine Rasmussen for pushing out after Copy That beaten in fiery Northern Derby

Stewards fined One Change’s driver Natalie Rasmussen $400 for breaching the push out rule, inconveniencing Copy That, after a cat and mouse Northern Derby run in New Zealand record time at Alexandra Park tonight.

The incident was one of several tactical manoeuvres which the stewards queried after a fiery derby which saw Copy That held up on the home turn and unable to catch One Change’s stablemate Amazing Dream who clocked a record 3:16.2 for the mobile 2700 metres.

Rasmussen admitted the push out breach after she shifted out of the trail 1250 metres from home, just as David Butcher had moved out from three back to challenge on Copy That, forcing him three wide.

It was a manoeuvre which could easily have cost Copy That the race as Butcher abandoned his intention to go forward and challenge for the lead, instead dropping down to trail his pacemaking stablemate Tommy Lincoln.

Natalie Rasmussen … fined for breaching the push out rule in a manouevre which cost Copy That.When stewards later quizzed Butcher why he had not stayed in the one-one, behind One Change, he said he believed it was in his best interests to follow Tommy Lincoln whom he believed would get him to the passing lane, based on his previous experience of driving the horse.

After working hard in the early stages Butcher felt his colt would have been unsuited to having to work in the parked position or be caught wide for some distance.

Unfortunately for supporters of the second favourite, Copy That was held up when Tommy Lincoln caved before the home turn, forcing Butcher to ease out four wide to get clear running room.

Butcher told stewards that despite being held up he believed Copy That had ample opportunity to run down Amazing Dream.

“Yes I dropped a spot but I came across them without having to pull back,” Butcher said outside the inquiry room. “I only lost a length and he should have picked the filly up as he had the most economical trip.

“He had his chance. I don’t think I could have caught Amazing Dream anyway.”

David Butcher talks to Copy That’s owner Merv Butterworth.Butcher said he had not wanted to take off too soon on Copy That because Rasmussen was watching him.

“Nat got us beaten but she got herself beaten too. She was too worried about me.”

One Change, whose first attack on Tommy Lincoln two laps out saw the leading trio eight lengths clear of the pack, took over before the turn but wilted late and just held third from his fast-closing stablemates Flying Even Bettor and Dina Bolt.

Stewards also noted that Tommy Lincoln over-raced in the middle stages when leading and put it to his driver Andre Poutama that he might have been better served attempting to take a trail.

Poutama said he had been instructed by trainer Ray Green to lead however the gelding began causing him difficulty by over-racing.

Each time One Change advanced to his outside Tommy Lincoln took the bit again and started racing keenly.

Poutama said Rasmussen had attacked him twice, resulting in the New Zealand record pace which saw Amazing Dream break not only the fillies’ record but the colts’ time as well.

Her 3:16.2 was 6.4 seconds faster than the winning time recorded in the derby last year by Ultimate Sniper and broke Best Western’s filly mark of 3:16.4. It was also six tenths of a second better than the colt’s New Zealand record set by Chase Auckland when he won the Northern Derby in 2018.

Mark Purdon sees Copy That coming but he has the Northern Derby won on Amazing Dream.Amazing Dream became the first filly to win the Northern Derby for 45 years, the last being Ripper’s Delight in 1975.

Champion All Stars’ filly Adore Me was beaten into second by Ohoka Punter in 2013.

Amazing Dream’s time represented a white hot mile rate of 1:56.9, and her closing sectionals would have been considerably faster than the leaders’ 56.2 and 27.7.

Even though she was given a beautiful drag up three wide by stablemate Flying Even Bettor it was a terrific feat given she was still second last 800 metres out.

“How fast do we have to go to win?” said Butcher.

“I’m really happy with Copy That’s run.”

Green agreed the run was “super.”

Green said he would like to have seen what Copy That could have done had he not been held up turning in.

“But he stamped himself as a serious racehorse tonight and it certainly bodes well for the future.”

The immediate future will see Copy That tackle the $50,000 Vero Flying Stakes (mobile 1980m) at Addington on March 20 followed by the $200,000 New Zealand Derby (mobile 2600m) on April 3.