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Copy That sails past Bad Medicine and Last Tango in Heaven at Alexandra Park tonight. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.

Take That! Copy That stunning from 55 metre handicap - and Blair said he cruised it

Copy That’s spectacular win from a 55 metre handicap at Auckland tonight stunned everyone and, remarkably, driver Blair Orange said he did it easily.

Second last and four wide round the home bend, Copy That’s chances of catching leader Bad Medicine looked remote.

But he unwound such a lethal sprint that he had the race won 50 metres out, prompting racecaller Aaron White to wonder if he’d created history at Alexandra Park.

“To win anywhere off 55 metres is a tough ask,” said Orange having his first sit behind the horse since winning last year’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Orange said while he couldn’t say he was confident of winning turning for home, he could feel how well Copy That was travelling.

Blair Orange … “He couldn’t have gone any better.”Blair Orange … “He couldn’t have gone any better.”“I couldn’t see the ones up front but he really dashed at them. He let down with ease. He felt pretty bloody good to be honest and couldn’t have gone any better.”

Copy That’s corrected time for the 2200 metre stand was a flying 2:42.8 but, incredibly, it wasn’t within cooee of the New Zealand record as many thought, Star Galleria clocking 2:39.7 from a 20m mark in September, 2018.

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green wasn’t among those who thought Orange had left his run too late on Copy That.

“I could see he was travelling really well and thought he could win.

“That will put the frighteners on a few of them.”

Bookies swiftly slashed Copy That’s New Zealand Cup odds from $9 to $5, easing co-favourites Self Assured and Rock N Roll Doo to $3.40.

“That was an ideal lead-up run,” Green said. “It wasn’t a stellar bunch to be fair but the way he did it was impressive.”

Green said he was glad to see Copy That get in front of what looked his main rival Hot And Treacherous after only 100 metres when Bunty and Gareth Hughes’ pacer muffed the standing start.

“Our horse always steps well but it was still a relief to see him do that tonight. As a trainer you always anticipate the worst. Instead of going in gung ho and oozing confidence you think of the worst scenarios then when they don’t happen it’s a real bonus.”

Green said it was another top shelf display by Orange who was having only his fifth drive on the horse.

“The only time Blair’s been beaten on him was when they had that fiasco of a start in the cup two years ago.”

Green said he would not make a decision on whether Copy That raced again at Cambridge next Friday until nominations go in on Tuesday.

The 2700 metre race for rating 55 and faster pacers would see the horse on another very long mark.

“But it makes sense to go to Cambridge. He’s on his game and it will keep him tight.”

Copy That is booked to fly to Christchurch four days later.

Sires’ Stakes mission

Joining him on the plane will almost certainly be Frankie Major who staged a great recovery to finish second to Sires’ Stakes heat upsetter Beach Flybye.

Driver David Butcher let the horse run from the gate but when he saw Tony Herlihy get the front on hot favourite Seve, and realised he’d be parked the trip, he quickly pulled back to four back on the markers.

Frankie Major was still second last at the 400 but really unwound to be only half a length behind the winning debutant.

“Running second should qualify him for the final,” Green said.

The $170,000 Woodlands Sires’ Stakes Two-year-old Final is run at Addington on cup day, November 8.

Our runners this week

Tuesday at Cambridge

Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm

“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”

Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm

“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”

Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm

“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”

Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm

“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm

“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”

Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm

“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”

Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm

“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”

Whales Harness