Ballarat Cup – Group l

Trainer Ray Green thought Copy That stamped himself as clearly the best horse in Australasia when he scored a “ridiculously easy” win in the A$150,000 Ballarat Cup.

“They didn’t even get a smell of him,” Green said after the dual New Zealand Trotting Cup hero led all the way to win untested by 2.8 metres, easily staving off late challenges from Honolua Bay and Triple Eight.

“That was the easiest-looking win he’s had for the last six months. When I heard he’d run his second quarter in 30.1, I thought ‘how are they going to beat him’?

“And I knew on the corner when they were all off the bridle that they wouldn’t catch him. He left them to it.”

Green said even though the commentator got a little excited when Triple Eight zipped out of the pack, it took only one flick on Copy That’s bum by driver Blair Orange to see the horse pick up again – “and it was see you later.”

Green said Copy That once again showed he was nigh on impossible to run down.

“He’s never been beaten in front when he’s got there easily. Even Self Assured hasn’t been able to get him at home.”

Copy That was credited with a time of 3:15.7 for the mobile 2710 metres, a mile rate of 1:56.2, with closing splits of 28.7, 30.1, 28.8 and 27.3.

“I’m thrilled for the horse. It’s a different Copy That this time to the previous trip to Australia (when he was coming back from injury and four months of confinement).

“You always worry before a race like this, after a big trip, but that was ridiculously easy. And it’s looking good for further down the track.”

Green was rapt for stable foreman Andrew Drake, who looked after Copy That on the trip, and Orange who, from few opportunities in Australia, was scoring only his third win across the Tasman.

“Blair is so cool under fire. You could see him looking across and thinking: ‘Where the hell are they’?”