Sizzling sectional times tell the real story about Copy That’s Spring Cup performance

Copy That might not have won tonight’s Spring Cup but you only have to clock his run to realise he was hardly disappointing.

In finishing third to Fernleigh Cash and Simply Sam, the dual New Zealand Cup winner recorded a sizzling 2:41.2 for the standing 2200 metres, the second fastest time in the race’s 28-year history.

And considering when driver Maurice McKendry turned the horse round just before the starter said go he was more like 30 metres behind the front line, not his carded 20 metre handicap, he probably went even faster than Mach Shard who set the race record of 2:40.8 in 2020.

Copy That’s time was also 3.5 seconds faster than the 2:44.7 he took in winning the Spring Cup in 2021 and half a second quicker than Kango’s winning time last year.

And it was just 1.5 seconds slower than the New Zealand record set by Star Galleria in 2018.

Copy That was privately timed to run his half in 54.5, a terrific effort considering when he got to the 800 metre peg he had just been shunted three wide by David Butcher on Hooray Henry and was being forcibly restrained to the rear.

Andy Sharpe, right, and Ollie Gregory attend to Copy That after his Spring Cup run.And while Fernleigh Cash was carving out his final 800 in 54.9 and 400 in 27.8 on the marker pegs in front, Copy That was last and four wide round the home turn but still flashing his final split in 27 flat.

McKendry said when Copy That came out in the run home “he really swished up to them but just flattened out the last bit” ending up two and a quarter lengths and half a neck from the winner.

“We were working that first round so he hasn’t gone bad. That will tidy him up a bit more.”

Trainer Ray Green described it as a typically game performance from Copy That, considering he had to do a bit in the running and was twice pushed wide.

“David was entitled to do what he did and Maurice didn’t think that cost him too much. I was happy with the run - he never misses a cheque.”

Green said the $25,000 Holmes DG (2700m) at Auckland in two weeks remained Copy That’s preferred next start but he wouldn’t hesitate to saddle up and take the horse south at the first sign that the race might not go ahead.

Green was delighted with the improved showing from Simply Sam to get the runners-up cheque of $3875.

Drive Andre Poutama rued the fact Brookies Jaffa had made such a smart beginning to take the early lead as it meant, while Sam enjoyed the early trail, he ended up three back when Fernleigh Cash took over down the back straight the first time.

“If I’d been able to trail I reckon I’d have won. He got home real good. I saved him for that one go.”