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
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No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
