“I thought he got rolled”

“FROM where I was standing I thought he got rolled…I was pretty relieved when his number came up on the board.”

POSITIONED 50 metres from the finish, New Zealand trainer Ray Green resolved himself to another near-miss as Copy That crossed the line in tonight’s Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park.

After working overtime in the ‘death seat’, Copy That forged his way to the front at the top of the home straight before being “swamped” by King Of Swing and Rockin Marty.

In what as a thrilling finish, the son of American Ideal held on by a short half-head from King Of Swing, with Rockin Marty a short half-head away third.

Last weekend Copy That was beaten a head by Amazing Dream in the inaugural $250,000 Rising Sun.

“As the other two swamped him I thought it’s happened again, he’s been beaten on the line,” Green said. “Thankfully this time it went his way.”

Driven by in-form reinsman Anthony Butt, Copy That rated 1:52.4 for the 1660-metre trip.

“That was a terrific run,” Green said. “He’s done all the work and still found enough up the straight.”

To be given a “light couple of days”, Copy That will be back at the same venue for next week’s Blacks A Fake.

The four-year-old will be joined on the card by his talented stablemate, American Dealer, which was also triumphant this evening.

With Butt in the cart, American Dealer captured the South East Derby in 1:54.5 over 2138 metres as Captain Crusader and Bettor Call Me filled the placings.

American Dealer will back-up in the Queensland Derby.

“American Dealer has been terrific in his three runs here,” Green said. “He’s in top shape for the Derby next week.”

Following their pending assignments Copy That and American Dealer will be returned to New Zealand for a well-deserved spell.

“They’ll have a break when they get home,” Green said. “Then I will get them ready for the New Zealand Cup Carnival.”