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Copy That’s tilt at winning a third New Zealand Cup is over with the horse lame and withdrawn from Friday’s Holmes D G at Auckland.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.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Tyson
5.06pm
“He hung badly all the way last time without a boring pole but that will be back on this week. And we’ve taken off his overcheck. He seemed to resent that. I trained him yesterday and he went really well. I expect him to go a lot better.”
Race 1: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.06pm
“Fergie had to do an adjustment on the cart last week and the horse got fractious and just kicked out. I think he would have gone well but their policy is to scratch them if there’s any sign of blood. He’s certainly hard work but he trained well this week - he didn’t put a foot wrong and paced well.”
Race 2: The Rascal
5.46pm
“He still struggles on the corners going full out. He’s OK when they’re tootling along but when they sprint, he finds it difficult. The drivers just have to nurse him and, driven like that, he should be hard to beat.”
Race 4: Kevin Kline
6.58pm
“He never had a chance to get any money last time, when caught four back on the pegs - it was just one of those races. But he hit the line well and I’m pretty sure he’ll go well again. Mantra Blue is a good mare but she only fell in last time and she could be vulnerable from the 30 metre handicap.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
6.58pm
“He steps well and Fergie showed last time he really knows how to drive him. If he’s on the fence he doesn’t put a foot wrong, it’s only when he gets out wide that he can mix it up.”
Race 7: Lincoln Lover
8.46pm
“He’s as honest as they come but he’ll need a run or two to tighten him up. He hasn’t raced for a while and he’s a little fat guy.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.46pm
“He’s a lovely horse who been training really well and he won his recent workout in good time. He has a bit more lick than our other runner Lincoln Lover and he should go well this time in.”
