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.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
