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
By Barry Lichter • 20 October 2022
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.”“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.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
