Copy That set to join elite list of $2m earners - check out how the champions compare

It’s hard to make a case on Friday night for anything stopping Copy That from becoming New Zealand’s 12th standardbred to earn more than $2 million in prizemoney, says trainer Ray Green.

Last week’s The Race By Grins winner, gifted a perfect barrier two in the $90,000 Taylor Mile, would boost his bankroll to $2,035,301 should he score.

And that, says Green, would see him rightfully take his place against the absolute elite of modern day harness horses.

With 33 wins, Copy That has already eclipsed the tallies of five on that list, Elsu (27 wins), Self Assured (28), Changeover (29), Terror To Love (31) and Smolda (32).

And another five ahead of him boosted their totals significantly by racing in the United States - notably champion trotter Lyell Creek (56), Bit Of Legend (53), Christen Me (51), Have Faith In Me (44) and Lazarus (37).

“Any horse who wins $2 million is pretty good,” says Green.

“Copy That deserves to be in that group and he hasn’t finished yet, he’s on top of his game. Who knows, he might get to $3 million.

“It’s hard to line up some of the top ones when you consider how much they won in the States. If Copy That had gone over there he’d probably have won $5 million by now.”

Merv and Meg Butterworth with trainer-driver Kerryn Manning after Arden Rooney’s 2015 New Zealand Cup win.Merv convinced

Copy That’s $450,000 payday in the $1 million slot race at Cambridge last week finally convinced Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth that he is the best of all the horses who have won him more than 1000 races.

“He’s definitely on top now. He’s done something that most New Zealand horses never do - win that many races and that many dollars.”

Butterworth had previously been reluctant to single out Copy That over Arden Rooney who won him and his wife Meg a New Zealand Cup (over Smolda) and Hunter Cup in 2015.

But Copy That now leads on all measurements - feature races won, number of wins and prizemoney.

Copy That claims two New Zealand Cups to Arden Rooney’s one, he has won 33 races (all but two for the Butterworths) and $1.985 million, compared with Arden Rooney’s 21 wins and A$1.07 million.

Sadly, Arden Rooney never raced after the New Zealand Free-for-all three days after the cup, a recurring tendon injury seeing his retirement in 2018.

“Copy That and Arden Rooney are totally different types. One was a tradesman, the other is a brilliantly fast horse.

“I’d have to say with Copy That’s character and make-up he’s been my most exciting horse.”

Merv Butterworth’s iPad kept losing reception of The Race By Grins last week.Butterworth will certainly enjoy a better vantage point for Copy That’s race this week.

He was still in the recovery room at a Melbourne Hospital last week after a hernia operation and, watching the Grins on his iPad, kept losing the picture due to poor reception. “Thankfully, it came good in the last lap.”

On Friday night Butterworth, like most other pundits, is expecting Copy That to fire straght to the lead and dictate.

Green says he’ll leave that up to driver Blair Orange.

“We’re not guaranteed to lead with Nicholas Cage and Chimichurri immediately outside us - one of them will probably launch.

“It’s hard to know what will happen early but I don’t think it matters. Blair will do the right thing. He doesn’t have to lead.

“There’s no such thing as a certainty but on paper it does look really good for Copy That. You couldn’t make a case for anything beating him.”

With Self Assured pinned away on the inside of the second row, Akuta drawn awkwardly in six and Aussie invader Better Eclipse on the outside of the gate, it all sets up perfectly.

Copy That hits the front over Old Town Road inside the first 200 metres at Cambridge last week.Green will be most intrigued by what Akuta can do. Even noting that co-trainer Mark Purdon was quoted as saying he thought something might be niggling at the horse, Green says he’s yet to see Akuta perform up to his big wraps.

“He’s very good but is he a superstar?”

Green reports Copy That is in A1 condition after an easy week.

“I haven’t hoppled him this week, just done a bit of free-legged work, and he’s looking pretty good. He doesn’t need any more.

“He had two tough races in two weeks, especially the first one in the Flying Mile, and he doesn’t take much to maintain.”