Surprise bonus run by Copy That a real drawcard for Cambridge on Saturday night

Copy That fans will get to enjoy a surprise bonus run from the little champ at Cambridge on Saturday night.

Trainer Ray Green has entered the dual New Zealand Cup winner for the $25,000 Cliff Thomas Memorial (mobile 1700m), which has attracted just six nominations.

The Waikato-Bay Of Plenty Club has extended nominations for all its races until Wednesday morning but Green says there’s no indication the race won’t be held.

“I put him in when I saw the nominations were the same ones he’s been racing, plus Old Town Road.

“The race is ideally timed before his trip - he’s due to fly out four days later on the Wednesday and it will be two weeks until his first run in Victoria. If he didn’t race he’d have to trial, and he’d probably have nothing to run against. And it makes sense to run for $25,000 than trial for nothing.”

Green says Copy That appears to have pulled up very well from his hard race last Saturday evening when he had to work overtime to catch the field and was pipped only in the very last stride by Alta Wiseguy in a finish that had the crowd on its feet and everyone guessing.

“I thought his run was exceptional. Nothing else in the field could have done what he did.

“He seems to have come through the race fine and running again over a mile (1700 metres) won’t kill him, so why not? They’ll all be on the front but he’ll draw the outside.”

Under the preferential barrier system, if no more horses enter, Old Town Road, comparatively lightly rated at R85 will start from two, Alta Wiseguy from four and Copy That from six.

Old Town Road hasn’t raced for two months, when he ran an outstanding third in the New Zealand Free-for-all, beaten two half heads by Self Assured and Majestic Cruiser. He has not been to a workout or trial since.

Blair Orange will continue his association with Copy That at Cambridge and will stay with the champ when he has his first Australian run in the A$150,000 Ballarat Cup (2710m) on January 21.

Six horses have been nominated for the Cliff Thomas Memorial on Saturday night.