Merv flags Perth and sets Copy That for Victorian summer but the Miracle Mile is out

Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth today finalised Copy That’s summer campaign, reluctantly ruling out a trip to Perth and instead aiming the horse at the A$500,000 Hunter Cup on February 5.

But in a surprise move, Butterworth will bypass the A$1million Miracle Mile on March 5 and send the horse home to Lincoln Farms to spell before preparing for the new $500,000 slot race at Cambridge and $400,000 Auckland Cup.

Copy That will fly to Melbourne on December 15, three days before the first of three country cups which Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green will use to fit the horse for the Hunter Cup.

Butterworth’s company Decron sponsors the A$75,000 Cranbourne Cup (mobile 2555m) on December 18 and he says he is keen to run his New Zealand Cup winner in it.

“I’ve sponsored the race for 10 years and hope to present my wife Meg with the Gold Cup on the winner’s dais,” he said.

Merv Butterworth … extensive planning of Copy That’s summer campaign centred around the horse’s welfare.Butterworth had been hoping to then send Copy That to his home town of Perth, investigating every angle possible on how to get the horse there amid the present strict Covid restrictions in the state.

“He’d be superlative against that lot in Perth,” said Butterworth of the tempting targets, the A$300,000 Fremantle Cup on January 21 and A$450,000 WA Pacing Cup on February 4.

No flights are presently going to Western Australia, and no grooms or handlers can enter, but Butterworth hadn’t ruled out the three-day 3500km road trip, having put two horses on the truck to Perth last week.

“If we started in the Cranbourne Cup the horse would have to leave within 24 hours to go to Perth. The trucks have to get back by a certain time for drivers to get home by Christmas.

The blow flies are as big as scarecrows

“My Perth trainer recommended against it. It’s also 100 degrees at that time of the year and the blow flies are as big as scarecrows.”

Butterworth, in consultation with Green, has now opted for the Victorian campaign, Green remaining the trainer in charge.

Butterworth is happy for Green to come and go, depending on his commitments at home and Covid travel restrictions - MIQ is to be replaced by seven days’ home isolation from January 17.

Copy That will stay with Chris Svanosio, best known for his success with top trotter Sparkling Success, winner of the 2018 Great Southern Star.“Ray will transport himself to Australia when he can but the horse will stay with Chris Svanosio at Romsey, which is 45 minutes from Melton.

“He trains for us and he has exceptional facilities including an 840 metre track.

“The stable is owned by Alistair MacLean, a renowned vet who is at the stable 24/7, so I’m sure he’ll be in good hands from a veterinary perspective.”

Butterworth says he has a choice of excellent reinsmen for Copy That.

“Chris is an exceptional driver but he often hands the reins to others when it suits.”

After Cranbourne, Butterworth has mapped out two, possibly three, more races for Copy That:

• the A$70,000 Bendigo Pacing Cup on January 8
• the A$110,000 Ballarat Pacing Cup on January 22 and, if needed
• the A$50,000 Casey Classic at Melton on January 29.

“That list doesn’t include the A$60,000 Shepparton Cup on January 15 but you can’t race in all of them.”

Butterworth says he is thinking of the horse’s welfare in not tackling the richest race of all on the calendar, the A$1 million Miracle Mile.

“I want to look after the horse and he’d be away from home for a very long time if he ran at Menangle. There’s always next year.

“I also don’t like Menangle. You’ve got to have plenty of practice to be successful there and Copy That couldn’t perform at his best in his first start there.

“They’re usually miles and they go flat out. To me that’s not good for the horse.”

Ray Green remains trainer in charge of Copy That during his summer campaign in Melbourne. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Butterworth says Copy That will fly home after the Hunter Cup for a good spell.

Green could then focus on preparing him for:

• the $500,000 Everest type slot race on April 14 and
• the $400,000 Auckland Cup on May 27.

Butterworth says he is keen on the novel Cambridge sprint and would be prepared to stump up $50,000 to secure Copy That a slot.

“But I need to see the conditions of the race first.”