Win, lose or draw on Saturday night the champ Copy That’s coming home next week
By Barry Lichter • 3 February 2023
Copy That will be on a flight home next week no matter where he finishes in the A$500,000 Hunter Cup at Melton.
Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth are adamant their champion won’t contest the A$1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 4, even if he downs his opposition in Saturday night’s iconic race.
Instead, he will concentrate on a slew of races at home, including Cambridge’s $1 million slot race on April 14 and the $200,000 Auckland Cup on May 26.
Merv Butterworth dislikes the conditions of the Miracle Mile which, once an invitation-only race, now demands horses earn their place in lead-up races in the state.
“Menangle is also too unforgiving for horses having their first starts there. They go too fast and hard and you run the risk of not doing the right thing by your horse.
“We’re better off at home running in a million dollar race an hour up the road at Cambridge.”
It’s a plan trainer Ray Green fully supports and he is looking forward to seeing the horse back at Lincoln Farms on Thursday.
“You can’t go in all the big races and it makes absolute sense to come home and target our races - it’s quite a lucrative time here in Auckland in the next few months.”
Other key targets for the horse will be the $100,000 Taylor Mile at Auckland on April 21 and the $100,000 Messenger there a week later, races restricted to four-year-olds until last year.
Ray Green … “You can’t go in all the big races.”Hard week for Ray
Green had been hoping to be well enough to fly to Melbourne with wife Debbie to watch Copy That on Saturday but the last week has been far from plain sailing for him.
On a steady improving curve from extensive surgery to repair damage after being kicked in the stomach last November, Green first came down with a bad flu then a bladder infection.
“I had a fleeting hope of going over but that set me back a little and I’ll just have to watch it on TV now. Hopefully it will be a happy watch.
“I’m sure he’ll go well. Andrew (Drake) is very happy with how the horse has progressed since winning the Ballarat Cup.
“And I’m no too worried about the draw as we’ve got a good driver in Blair (Orange). It could be awkward or it could be good but that applies to them all.
“What it does do is give us options. He can stay out of trouble early, glide out and see what happens. He doesn’t have to lead.”
Green remains convinced Honolua Bay will provide Copy That with his most serious challenge, and the market reflects that, the horse backed in from an opening quote of $9 to equal second favourite at $5.50 with Spirit Of St Louis.
“From four he won’t have to do too much work to be handy and he’s a very fast horse.”
Held up until 200 metres out in the Ballarat Cup, after starting from a wide gate, Honolua Bay steamed home from well back for second.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mach Dan ($26) in the hunt either, as he was also unlucky at Ballarat.”
Copy That races at 11.07pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Worse draw puts unlucky Tyson in better spot to win at Auckland on Friday night
Debbie Lincoln’s home stretch burst pointer of things to come; but her draw rankles on Friday
Streets’ donation raises $100,000 for charity and Timmy could be a supermarket special
Sugar Ray Lincoln and Kevin Kline in fighting form for Friday night at Auckland
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: What’s Up The Hill
5.33pm
“He hasn’t raced for more than four months but he’s trotting well in training and has had a couple of workouts. He steps well so if Fergie can keep him away from the others, and he slides on from the 20 metre mark, he could even lead, and that would make him the one to beat. It doesn’t take much for him to lose concentration though.”
Race 4: Lincoln La Moose
6.23pm
“He hasn’t raced for a while but should go well. He finished off his workout really well on a 26.9 quarter for a close fourth behind some good ones (Greased Lightnin, Beetastic and Diamonds Are Forever). He beat himself in his last few runs by racing too keenly but he’s capable enough.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.30pm
“She went to the line under a hold last week. She’s right up there with the best of them but you’re no chance when you get back like that. She hasn’t got a good draw again but it’s a small field and hopefully they won’t walk and only sprint home. Joyride looks the one to beat.”
Race 3: Tyson
6.23pm
“He was definitely beaten by the draw last week. He never got the chance to get out. From five this time he won’t get jammed up and can go forward and put himself in the race.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.52pm
“Sugar Ray has a tad more speed than Kevin, but he had to sit parked for the last 1200 metres last week. You’d think he’ll get a good trip this time from the inside draw.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.52pm
“Kevin is as honest as they come. He’s a bit more genuine than Sugar Ray. He closed fast from the back last Friday and is better suited over 2200 metres this week.”
