Copy That’s record-shattering win not really what Ray wanted - but the crowd loved it

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green had an usual reaction to Copy That’s staggering win from a 70 metre handicap at Cambridge tonight.

Green knew his horse’s 3:16 clocking for the standing 2700 metres was a New Zealand record, slicing 1.2 seconds off Triple Eight’s old mark, an effort that saw the crowd give the horse a standing ovation on his way back to the stables.

But the enormity of Copy That’s feat - he’s the first pacer to overcome such a long mark in at least 42 years - really only became apparent when Green was told the horse’s sectional times.

Incredibly, Copy That paced his last 2200 metres in 2:38.3, only six tenths of a second outside the track record for the distance.

And he ran his last mile in a white hot 1:52.7. Compare that to the Cambridge track record for a flying mile of 1:51.6, jointly held by Adore Me and South Coast Arden, just a second quicker than Copy That who ran 1100 metres before reaching his last mile.

Trainer Ray Green and wife Debbie greet Zachary Butcher on his return with Copy That. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.“I hope he hasn’t gone too well,” Green said. “I was hoping we didn’t have to do something like that. I just hope he pulls up ok.

“But we’ve got some time up our sleeve, it’s 10 days ’til the cup.”

It wasn’t surprising driver Zachary Butcher reported to Green than Copy That was feeling it near the finish - he ran from the mile to the 800 in 56.8, then ripped home in 55.9 and 27.8.

“Zac said he was tired but he dug in.”

Green was relieved he remembered to remind Butcher about Copy That’s habit of knocking off, given he won by only a head.

“I warned Zac to watch him if he gets his head in front because he can switch off, and to keep driving him right to the line.

“And that’s what he did, but Zac kept his mind on the job. He drove him well and did just what we planned.

“If the other horse (Hot And Treacherous) stepped, he was to follow, follow, follow him everywhere and hopefully get over the top of him late. Hot And Treacherous is a pretty good horse.”

While it might have looked like Copy That was struggling to make up the leeway on his main rival who had a 20 metre start, Butcher said the horse knew what he was doing.

Zachary Butcher salutes after a 10 out of 10 drive. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.“The horse was thinking for me and we got a bit of a breather when we caught the field.

“I always thought I was travelling all right and when I pulled out I thought I’d probably get him.

“Maurice’s horse looked like it had knocked off but it kept running with me. My guy was feeling the pinch - when you’re running those times you’ve got to come to the end of it - but he still put his head out.”

Tonight was the first time Butcher had driven Copy That in a race for three years and three weeks but he said he always had a great will to win.

“The last time I drove him he was a green, two-win horse but now he has great manners. He doesn’t overdo it and, when you’re going into a two mile race, you need to be relaxed, you can’t be getting too keen.”

Copy That was so relaxed before the start of the race, happy to stand on his distant 70 metre mark, that he nearly undid himself, getting a sudden “jolt of excitement” right when the race was about to start, kicking out and getting his foot over the hopple.

“It was lucky, I was just about to turn in. Danny (Blakemore) had called us into line and you’ve usually got three or four seconds after that.”

Watching anxiously, Green was relieved when “a hawk-eyed track staffer rushed over to help.”

Old Town Road has as much speed

Butcher, who was only warming the seat on Copy That tonight for his cup driver Blair Orange, now switches to new-kid-on-the-block Old Town Road for the big one on November 8.

“Old Town Road is pretty good. But you can’t compare the two. The only time they’ve met, Old Town Road won but Copy That was fresh-up.

“They’ve both improved since and, while Copy That is a hardened campaigner and it’s my guy’s first run in the cup, he has as much speed as Copy That.”

Owner Merv Butterworth said Copy That’s win tonight only served to underline that he’s the one to beat in the cup.

“I’ve been confident for a long time and moreso after the race at Ashburton when so many of his rivals under-performed. How are they going to turn it around?

“And our bloke is on the way up.”

TAB bookies share Butterworth’s confidence and immediately promoted him to outright $3.80 favourite.