Ants: Copy That has the right profile to join Who’s who list of Hunter Cup champions

He’s driven more Hunter Cup winners than anyone else so you have to listen when Anthony Butt says Copy That fits the mould of previous champions of the race.

It takes a special horse to win harness racing’s equivalent of the Cox Plate, says Butt, and Lincoln Farms’ Copy That has all tools he needs to win Saturday night’s 74th running.

New Zealand-trained pacers have won 15 of the last 30 editions of Victoria’s summer showpiece, but the race has changed in recent years and got a lot harder to win, says Butt, one of New Zealand’s finest horsemen now based in Victoria.

“Kiwis had a great record in the race especially when it was a two mile stand. If you got in on the front, even if you weren’t the best horse, you could get home.

“Our horses came through New Zealand Cup preparations, had been racing in stands all spring, and were then pointed over here. Some of the best Australian horses would even miss the Hunter Cup if they weren’t good from a stand or were too far back in the handicap.

“But since the race became a mobile (in 2018) and the distance was cut to 2760 metres, the best of the best target the race, they all get away together, and it’s a lot harder to win.”

Some of harness racing’s greatest heroes already had their names engraved on the Hunter Cup when Butt started collecting trophies with the great mare Blossom Lady in 1994 and 1995.

Pin-ups like Village Kid, Preux Chevalier, Popular Alm, Gammalite, Koala King, Purse Steel (x3) and Royal Gaze had stamped the race as the ultimate prize.

1994 and 1995 Hunter Cup winner Blossom Lady with driver Anthony Butt and trainer Derek Jones.But one year after Master Musician started the roll for the Kiwis in 1993, Bloss showed her staying prowess.

“She was out and out tough and came from handicaps of 20 metres and 30 metres to win.”

Mister D G, who scored for Butt in 2004, was both tough and fast and, like his 2009 winner Mr Feelgood, enjoyed a perfect trip, “and was there at the top of the straight to be presented to win.

Mr Feelgood was “a great all-round horse” and began an unprecedented run in the race for Butt and his trainer brother Tim, who also scored with Stunin Cullen in 2011, Choise Achiever in 2012 and Mah Sish in 2013.

“Mah Sish had to be really tough to win. He found the front but got attacked the whole race and was out on his feet at the 400. But he was still tough enough to stall them all off. He also won the Ballarat Cup that year and finished second in the Interdom Final.”

On the other side of the coin Stunin Cullen won the Cup with his sheer speed.

“He was fabulously fast - one of the fastest I’ve driven over 200 metres - but he had to be held up. Both he and Choise Achiever got lucky - they got away fast, trailed the leader, and had the best runs. “It’s harder for sit-sprinters to win now - unless they draw well and sit behind the leader - because so many horses can make their own luck, get into it and rough it.

“The field is so strong most can sprint and stay. Nine times out of 10 the best horse will win but Melton is one of those tracks where barrier draws are still crucial.”

Butt believes six is a good alley for Copy That on Saturday night, better than if he’d drawn the inside, from where driver Blair Orange would have been at risk of being crossed and starved for room.

“He’ll be out of trouble, he can balance up, let the ones inside him sort themselves out, then go for the front if he wants it.”

Butt says while Copy That wouldn’t want to spend too many tickets early, and leave himself an easy target, there’s no question he can win.

“He’s an outstanding horse. Any horse that can win two New Zealand Cups is pretty special.

“He’s got the all round game. He’s good enough to go to the front but equally as good coming off a helmet.”

Butt discovered that first-hand when he drove a brilliantly timed race on Copy That to win the Wondai’s Mate in Brisbane in July, 2021.

“He sat four fence and was nearly last turning for home. Horses just don’t do what he did that night.”

Butt says while Copy That stands out on Saturday, there are a host of chances right behind him.

“Hardly anything would surprise you if they won. At this level all the horses are so good. There’s not much between first and last.

“My drive Rock N Roll Doo is a very good horse but he has to do things right. He’s a big chance if he relaxes but if he over-races, like he has in his last two starts, we’re in trouble.”

Copy That races at 11.07pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.