Copy That is out of Friday’s Holmes DG at Auckland and his New Zealand Cup tilt is in serious doubt.
Vets investigating Copy That’s lameness and Merv’s Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the wars too
By Barry Lichter • 3 October 2023
Copy That’s tilt at winning a third New Zealand Cup is over with the horse lame and withdrawn from Friday’s Holmes D G at Auckland.
And in a double blow for Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth, the Victorian campaign for Horse of the Year Sharp ’N’ Smart is also over as he has a viral infection.
Butterworth said trainer Ray Green felt something wasn’t right with Copy That last Friday and, while the soreness had since been isolated to his off foreleg, vets were still working to determine the exact injury.
“Until we know more there’s not a lot that we can say,” said Butterworth who said he had learned over the years to be accepting of such setbacks.
TAB bookies this afternoon suspended betting on the the $650,000 IRT New Zealand Cup, for which Copy That had been a clear third favourite.
Though Copy That had been beaten in two races so far this campaign, trainer but Ray Green reported he was deliberately “porky” as he was peaking for the November 12 feature at Addington.
The setback continues the rollercoaster ride Copy That has taken Merv and Meg Butterworth and Green on in recent years. A fractured splint bone saw him sidelined in December, 2021 but he recovered to win the cup for a second time and take his bankroll to more than $2 million.
Like Copy That, Sharp ’N’ Smart had been among the favourites for big spring races until he was an inexplicable failure in last Saturday’s Arrowfield at Hastings.
Trainer Graeme Rogerson had set the horse for the Melbourne Cup with lead-up races in either the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate.
More news in Harness
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Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
