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Talented Victorian driver Nathan Jack has been chosen to drive star Kiwi Copy That.

New driver for Copy That - Nathan Jack engaged to pilot NZ Cup champ in Victoria

In a coup for the connections of star pacer Copy That, owner Merv Butterworth tonight engaged top Victorian horseman Nathan Jack to drive the horse throughout his upcoming Victorian campaign.

Butterworth confirmed the horse, who resumes at Auckland on Thursday night, would be flown to Melbourne on August 31.

Jack will begin his partnership with the New Zealand Cup winner in the A$100,000 Melton Classic on September 10 and has committed to driving the horse in each of his runs in the state, with his main mission the A$300,000 Victoria Cup on October 8.

Butterworth said he and trainer Ray Green would be guided by the horse’s performances and condition in then deciding whether to return home for the New Zealand Cup on November 8 or remain in Victoria for the Interdomion series which starts on November 26.

“I’ve employed Nathan many times - I took him to Tasmania to drive in the cup there once - and he’s a very good driver,” Butterworth said.

“I’m very pleased he’s agreed to drive him for the whole campaign in Victoria, including the Interdoms if he contests that series.”

Copy That is regularly driven in New Zealand by Maurice McKendry when he races in the north and Blair Orange when he trips to the South Island.

On his successful Queensland campaign of 2021 he was expertly handled by expat Kiwi Anthony Butt and in his sole start at Cranbourne last December he was driven by Chris Svanosio who also stabled the horse.

Jack has been hitting the headlines recently as stand-in driver for champion mare Ladies In Red and has long been a top reinsman, regularly featuring in the top half dozen drivers in the state.

His career stalled in September, 2018, when he was outed after a police race fixing probe into a race at Cobram in 2015.

But last November, in an appeal to the County Court, he, stablehand Lisa Bartley and fellow driver Mark Pitt were judged to have no case to answer and all charges were dismissed.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Tuesday at Addington

Race 4: The Big Lebowski
1.32pm

“His run at the cup trials on Wednesday has set him up nicely and I’m sure he’ll go well. He’s got the draw (four) and the driver (Blair Orange) and the horse is in a good place at the moment. He should be right in the fray.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday at Addington

Race 12: The Big Lebowski
7.48pm

“He comes in to six with scratchings but there’s plenty of speed inside him so he’s going to need a bit of luck. But I’m sure he’ll go a good race as he’s right on top of his game. He’s pulled up well from cup day.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Cambridge

Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.33pm

“I’d say he’s the one to beat. He certainly deserves to be favourite as the others have been around for a while. He’s a big, gangly horse who has time written all over him but he’s getting stronger all the time and he’s doing everything right now. The raw ability is there - he’s got a bit of speed - and he’s been running good fractions at the trials and getting home well.”


Race 11: Commander Lincoln
10.22pm

“Some of these look a lot better than he’s used to running against but they’re in there for a reason. He’s on the second row but he’s always running on and I’m sure he’ll go his usual, honest race.”

Dan Costello Race Photography