Theoretically, night one of Victorian harness racing’s TAB Summer of Glory carnival on Saturday night at Ballarat was very much intended to symbolise the opening rounds of a boxing bout. 

Punches would be thrown and techniques assessed without enormous bloodshed in the grander scheme. 

As it turns out, however, this year’s TAB Summer of Glory seems less Marvin Hagler vs Tommy Hearns in 1985 and more Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks three years later. 

For those who don’t follow the sweet science or were born beyond the era of boxing’s second golden era, the metaphor is based on this foundation. 

Hagler and Hearns, warriors that they were, traded torrents over 12 brutally unforgiving rounds, with neither giving an inch. 

Tyson, however, tore Spinks apart in 91 staggering seconds. 

And from what we witnessed at Bray Raceway last weekend, Copy That and Just Believe may have humbled their prospective adversaries in similarly devastating fashion. 

Let’s not bury the lead, of course. 

There’s little doubt Copy That was somewhat gifted Saturday night’s PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup when securing a bloodless lead; and Just Believe benefitted from frenetic early tactics and a brilliant Greg Sugars drive in the E B Cochran Trotters Cup. 

Despite these facts, however, prosecuting any reasonable or persuasive argument that one of their weekend rivals is capable of turning the tables on that pair approaching the Del-Re Nataional A. G. Hunter Cup and Woodlands Stud Great Southern Star won’t be easy going. 

Here’s why, and let’s begin with Copy That. 

Aside from some sub-par performances in Victoria last year, all evidence suggested that Ray Green’s two-time New Zealand Cup winner was the most accomplished pacer that this carnival could conjure. 

Indeed, if one were willing to consciously erase his somewhat failed sojourn to these shores last spring, his only serious rival – in terms of peak performance – was probably Rock N Roll Doo. 

The fact he claimed Ballarat Pacing Cup with such arrogant ease bore knockout vibes within itself. 

That his pre-race presence was so enormous last start Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup winner offered him the lead so meekly, however, was, perhaps, even more important and imposing. 

In the blink of an eye, Copy That is no longer the shell of himself we saw just months ago. He’s the lord of southern hemisphere pacing who demands respect and fear. 

The Just Believe narrative is slightly different, yet perhaps more meaningful. 

Despite declaring himself this nation’s pre-eminent squaregaiter in recent times, with dominant victories in both the Bill Collins Sprint and Inter Dominion Final, there’s something the punters – and pardon the pun – have not believed about Just Believe. 

And, if we’re being honest, even Greg Sugars seemed doubtful that his towering trotter could topple an all-star field at Bray Raceway after four weeks off the scene. 

Yet he did, dominantly, from a second line draw, just as he did in the ID decider. 

It isn’t over until it’s over, but there’s no question the Summer of Glory’s heaviest hitters have already landed some devastating blows.