New Zealand Cup hero Copy That is going to spend his summer in Australia with an earlier than expected leaving date.
The Pukekohe star was always likely to head across the Tasman in the New Year with the changes to the domestic racing calendar that have seen the Auckland Cup put back until May 27.
But while races like the Hunter Cup at Melton and Miracle Mile in Sydney were obvious targets worth a combined A$1.5million, Copy That could start his Australian summer far earlier at Cranbourne on December 18.
The A$75,000 Cranbourne Cup is sponsored by his owner Merv Butterworth and he has indicated to trainer Ray Green he would be keen to see his multiple group one winner tackle the race.
"With not much on for him here we are happy to target that and then there are a series of good cup races in Victoria in January before the Hunter Cup on the first Saturday in February," says Green.