By Adam Hamilton
Champion former Kiwi driver Anthony Butt has snared the prized drive on Copy That in his upcoming Aussie raid.
Owner Merv Butterworth confirmed Butt would drive the glamour four-year-old in his four planned Albion Park races, starting with the $25,000 Wondais Mate, a 1660m free-for-all on July 3.
“He’s got the Jewels and then he focus switches to Brisbane,” Butterworth said. “I’m a believer in horses for courses when it comes to drivers and Anthony Butt is as good as you’d get in big Aussie races.
“He’ll drive him all four races, which are four weeks in a row.”
After the Wondais Mate comes the $250,000 The Rising Sun on July 10, then the $100,000 Group 1 Sunshine Sprint on July 17 and $250,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake on July 24.
“He’s a great drive to pick up. He’s probably NZ’s best horse, or very close to it,” Butt said.
“He’s going to be very well suited in that big, new four-year-old race (Rising Sun) and then it’ll be a new challenge against the likes of King Of Swing in the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake.
“If you take a line through Self Assured and how he’s gone against the best Aussie horses, Copy That should be very competitive.
“Our stable hasn’t got any horses for the Queensland Carnival, but it’s shaping like it’ll be something special so I’m thrilled I’ll be part of it on a horse like Copy That.”
Butterworth can’t wait to see Copy That takes on Australia’s best.
“Ray (Green) used to train King Of Swing and obviously trains Copy That. He’s told me he thinks Copy That is a better horse, but no doubt King Of Swing has kept improving since he moved to Australia,” he said.
