Copy That ogled at airport as Lincoln Farms’ trio arrives safe and sound in Melbourne

Copy That, Simply Sam and Argyle have arrived safely in Australia, a little tired but seemingly happy in their new surroundings at Ballarat.

Trainer Ray Green was at Yabby Dam Farm on the outskirts of the town at 10pm last night to welcome Lincoln Farms’ trio after their 10-hour door-to-door journey from Pukekohe.

And today he took Copy That and Simply Sam out for a quiet jog, opting to leave Argyle in his paddock, looking around, eyes bulging, at the impressive panorama.

“Argyle looked a bit more tired than the other two - a big journey like that can be stressful for them first time.

“They didn’t eat up last night, mind you I didn’t expect them to, but I think they’ll be fine in another two or three days. I won’t do anything serious with them until they’re over the trip.”

Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth’s first report on Copy That from his float driver Grant Campbell brought a smile to his face.

On arrival at the airport in Melbourne at 7.15pm, Campbell said the New Zealand Cup winner caught the eye of fellow truck drivers as he crossed the tarmac.

“They thought the horse Grant was leading was a thoroughbred because he looked sensational, and they wanted to know who he was.”

Butterworth said Copy That’s splint bone fracture last December could have been a blessing in disguse and hopefully he might now show “he is better than best and more likely a super horse.”

Green said he heard people had been drooling over the horse, who has really matured during his injury-enforced break, but tempered the observation by saying “it’s not a beauty contest.”

Green would rather see the horse judged by his performance in the $100,000 Melton Classic in nine days, the first of three, or possibly four races in Victoria, culminating in the $300,000 Victoria Cup on October 8.

Green says Simply Sam and Argyle are likely to start their Victoria Derby campaigns a day earlier than Copy That, at Ballarat on September 9.

Simply Sam, rated 76 in Australia, will contest the A$15,000 Holloway Classic for three-year-olds while Argyle, rated only 67, could either join him or run in a rating race for A$10,000.

Green said he was lucky to be stabled at Pat Driscoll’s lavish property, where he helped trainer Anton Golino when stranded by Covid on his last trip to Victoria with Copy That.

“It’s a great facility, mind boggling, and cost millions. They’ve got two treadmills, a walker, a 50 metre pool, a 1200m straight line track another 1000m track, a 10km jog track and even a vet clinic where they can do surgeries.

“It’s a big operation. There are a lot of thoroughbred yearlings and weanlings running round the paddocks and the whole place is about 700 acres (280ha).”

Green said he wouldn’t want for anything during the campaign which was away to a safe start.

“So far, so good.”