Team Blair and Copy That have the credentials to score epic Ballarat Cup win on Saturday

Champion driver Blair Orange has scored only two wins in Australia but, on Saturday night, Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green believes he has a great chance to win what has been described as the strongest race in Australasia in three years.

Orange teams with New Zealand champion Copy That in the A$150,000 Ballarat Pacing Cup which is so chock full of in-form stars, gun driver Anthony Butt rates it the best race he’s seen carded since before Covid struck.

Orange seldom competes across the Tasman - from only 17 drives in the last 11 years he’s reined home Rozelski in a heat of the 2013 New South Wales Oaks and Amazing Dream in the 2021 Blacks A Fake in Queensland when the great mare relegated Copy That to fourth.

But Green is confident he will do Copy That proud this weekend.

“Blair is a top driver and, even though he doesn’t have much experience in Australia, a horse race is a horse race, wherever it’s held.

“Blair knows the horse, the horse is in good shape, and I’m confident he’ll hold his own with those other drivers. He’ll have done his homework and logged it into his computer.”

Trainer Ray Green rightfully has every confidence in his driver. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.Green says Copy That and Orange have been a terrific partnership in recent seasons, winning seven of their nine races together.

“Other than that cock-up of a New Zealand Cup start three years ago, the only time Blair’s been beaten on the horse is last time, when he lost out in that nose photo-finish at the Park.”

Green says he won’t be telling Orange how to drive the horse in what shapes up as a very tactical contest with Butt trying to hold up on Rock N Roll Doo, Nathan Jack desperate to cross him on Cranbourne, and Jack Laugher likely to head them both off on gate flyer Torrid Saint.

“But I wouldn’t expect Blair to leave and try and cross them - you can’t burn the candle at both ends - I think he’ll weigh it up as it unfolds.

“I’m sure Blair will do the right thing. Obviously the ones on the inside will be trying to hold up but he’ll decide in real time what to do.

“You can’t go out there with a plan, that normally turns into a disaster, because you can’t pick how the race is going to be run. Good drivers don’t have a plan, they drive on instinct, and Blair is obviously very good at that or he wouldn’t have achieved what he has.”

Dominant

Orange has been dominant in the driving ranks in New Zealand, taking the premiership for the last five years straight, and before that he was next best behind Dexter Dunn for four years until Dunn moved to the States, where he is now the leading driver.

Green says while reinsmen like Jack and Butt, who ironically have both driven Copy That on previous Australian campaigns, were excellent big-race tacticians, he rates Orange in the same class.

Green also believes it’s easier to compete against good drivers than if “there’s a turkey in there who wants to try to win the race in the first 100 metres.

“If they’re all good drivers seldom do you see anything hare-brained.”

But so good is the field, Green admits luck will play a part in the result.

“These horses are the best around - a lot of them are on their game and could win it - and it will come down to who gets the best trip.”

Copy That, pictured taking his second New Zealand Cup, has won over distances of 1609 metres, 2200 metres, 2700 metres and 3200 metres in his last five starts.Green doesn’t believe Copy That will be disadvantaged by the race being over 2710 metres.

“He holds the New Zealand record at 2700 and he’s been racing exeptionally well over all distances these last few months. That’s why he is what he is, the distances don’t bother him.

“I’m sure he’ll go well. It would be a mistake for anybody to take him too cheaply. You have to consider him a serious threat. His credentials are the best in the field.”

Green was somewhat surprised to see former Kiwi Cranbourne open favourite for the cup ahead of Copy That.

“He’s a genuine open class horse, without being hugely successful so far, but David Aiken is a very good trainer and he may have pressed a few buttons that haven’t been pressed before. He’s obviously got him going very well but this race is a lot deeper than the Shepparton Cup he won last week.”

Green says all reports from stable foreman Andrew Drake are positive about Copy That who has thrived since arriving at Yabby Dam Farms last Wednesday and, if anything, is even brighter than at home, squealing and letting everyone know he’s boss.

“Andrew knows the horse pretty well now and seems pretty bullish about him, says he’s settled in really well.

Andrew Drake has kept Copy That to his usual routine. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“Nothing worries him, he’s totally unflappable. That’s why he’s so good, he conserves his energy and doesn’t get stressed out.”

Drake has stuck to Copy That’s usual routine, says Green, and gave the horse his most serious hitout last Saturday, coming home his last mile in 2:05.

“But he’s not a horse we ever drill. He’s an athlete and races well on a light prep.

“He had another maintenance run on Wednesday and Andrew said he felt super.

“Hopefully it will be a fun watch on Saturday night.”

Copy That races at 11.18pm NZ time at Ballarat on Saturday night.