Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth celebrate Copy That’s second NZ Cup win in 2022. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.
Wanted: The ideal home for Copy That to stand at stud - Will he go to a Kiwi or Aussie buyer?
By Barry Lichter • 9 September 2024
The hunt is on to find a new home for retired champion pacer Copy That at stud.
And, while owners Merv and Meg Butterworth have already had overtures from one New Zealand stud, the Melbourne veteran says he could see the horse ending up in Australia.
“If you search the records for New Zealand, Australia and the United States you’ll see he’s the most successful son of American Ideal and, now that he is in a paddock in the sky, Copy That is the obvious one to take his place.
“In New Zealand, buyers never seemed to pursue American Ideal’s stock at the yearling sales but in Australia he’s had a lot of winners, the most probably in Western Australia,” Merv Butterworth said.
“I’m sure a good stud would like to buy him to stand in their own name. It’s just a shame it didn’t happen a month ago at the start of the breeding season before many broodmare owners made their choices.”
Butterworth, who is in Ireland for the launch of the Traditional Irish Horse Eventing League which his company Decron Horse Care has sponsored, said when he fielded a call from Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green at 1.15am he knew it would not be good news.
“But it came as no surprise. I was always expecting it. We knew we were battling against reality.
“When your horse doesn’t have sufficient cartilage in his knee you’d be foolish to expect too much. We did everything possible, no stone was left unturned, but you can’t imitate cartilage.”
Butterworth, who has won more than 1000 races as an owner, and is used to the knocks that go with racing horses, said he didn’t make a habit of looking back too much.
But, asked what race he’ll remember as Copy That’s greatest, he said none beat his New Zealand Trotting Cup wins, especially the second one in 2022 as Covid restrictions prevented them from being at Addington the previous year.
“But the one that really stands out is the one that they stuffed up at the start”, the 2021 cup shemozzle costing Copy That any chance of being a triple cup winner.
“He won so many races, it’s all a bit of a blur, really, but he’s absolutely the best horse we’ve had. Arden Rooney wasn’t far behind him. He won a New Zealand Cup and the best race in Victoria, the Hunter Cup, but Copy That was more exciting.
“It’s very hard to get your hands on a horse like him but he had nothing left to prove. He was the people’s horse and a champion.”
Butterworth won’t be home until the end of the month by which time he hopes his next star might be in orbit. The Big Lebowski, making his own comeback from injury, showed he was ready to resume in the Spring Cup at Auckland on Friday week when winning his first workout back last Thursday.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
