Copy That cops it from favourite’s stablemate after King Of Swing gallops in early skirmish

Trainer Ray Green could not have been more proud of Copy That’s run in Saturday night’s Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship after he had to fend off a savage mid-race attack.

In what commentator Chris Barsby described as a brutal first quarter of the last mile in 27.9, driver Anthony Butt said Copy That was “all out” as Expensive Ego and Ricky Thurlow eye-balled him.

The pace was so hot, Expensive Ego’s stablemate, unbackable favourite King Of Swing, driven by Luke McCarthy, dropped four lengths away in the one-one sit.

Green believes the tactics cost Copy That a win, as he did not run out of puff until the last 100 metres and was swamped out of second only late, finishing 3.3 metres from winner Amazing Dream.

“To my eye that guy drove to get us beaten and he destroyed his own horse’s chances.” Expensive Ego punctured early in the run home and struggled over the line in seventh place, only the third time in his 23-start career that he has finished out of the money.

Butt said the 27.9 quarter definitely took Copy That’s finishing burst away and set up a sizzling last mile of 1:54.2. The mobile 2680 metres was run in 3:12 with closing quarters of 27.9, 30, 27.9 and 28.4.

“Possibly he could have won,” Butt said. “It was a big burn after he had already done a bit early.”

Stewards later warned Butt and Thurlow over their conduct following a verbal altercation in the birdcage area after the race.

Amazing Dream sprint lanes past Copy That, centre, close to home.Green said stewards who reviewed Thurlow’s drive concluded it was Expensive Ego’s normal racing pattern to sit parked.

But during an extended investigation stewards spent more time analysing what caused King Of Swing to first run off the markers then gallop on the first bend, carving up the field, eventually suspending Butt for four weeks.

Butt pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to give sufficient clearance to King Of Swing when attempting to cross that horse on the first turn, which resulted in King Of Swing contacting his sulky wheel and galloping, causing interference to Jeradas Delight, Rockin Marty, L L Cool J and Bundoran.

In assessing the penalty, consideration was given to Butt’s good driving record, his plea on penalty and the status of the race.

Stewards deemed the degree of interference to be in the higher range.

“I wasn’t aware of any interference at the time,” said Butt who was pressing across from five on the gate.

“There was a fair bit happening all around me. Luke was doing his best not to get blocked in and Amazing Dream came off the bit as Turn It Up charged through inside King Of Swing.’’

Butt said the interference wasn’t that obvious in the head-on film.

“There wasn’t much in it but the outside runner always seems to get the blame. They’re pretty tough on first bend interference. But even though the interference was very minor I didn’t have too much problem with the decision.”

Butt said Copy That went “massive” to finish so close.

“It’s hard enough doing all that work anyway without an extra mid-race burn.

“Copy That had a massive carnival - he couldn’t have gone much better really.”

“It was a fantastic carnvial. Queensland put on a real show, the good horses turned up, it was great racing, and the favourites weren’t winning all the races.”

Copy That flies home on August 8, Green reporting he was pretty tired after the race and in need of a break.