Blair rapt in Copy That’s near record run and it made the trip in worthwhile for Ray too

Copy That was so good tonight, leading driver Blair Orange can’t wait to return to Auckland next week to pilot him in the $50,000 Thames Summer Cup.

Orange described Copy That’s win in the mobile mile as exceptional considering he was only a fraction of a second outside the track record and was never under pressure to score by four lengths over Steel The Show and Hot And Treacherous.

“Clocking 1:52.3 was a very good run on that track which was a bit sticky,” Orange said.

Copy That’s time was just one tenth of a second outside the record set by Spankem in April’s Taylor Mile, when in a head, half a neck and head thriller he downed Hot And Treacherous, Self Assured and Cranbourne.

Copy That had nothing like that to push him tonight and Orange sat still in the run to the line, a startling trouncing given the torrid run he endured early in the race.

Watching the race from his car, trainer Ray Green, just a couple of hours out of hospital, thought Copy That was in big trouble when trapped three wide round the first two turns.

Green had not intended going to the races but he and his wife Debbie decided to drive in to Alexandra Park when the motorway traffic looked heavier heading south.

Ray Green and his wife Debbie with Frankie Major while the vet checks his heart rate after he fibrillated during his race.Copy That’s early predicament was about par for the night after Green watched first Lincoln River pipped a head, Frankie Major drop out of the trail after fibrillating and Trinity Star run a long last, exhibiting early signs of a respiratory infection afterwards.

Copy That’s supporters might have been sweating but Orange never flinched.

“I just sat there until they sorted themselves out then I asked him to go.”

Copy That found the breeze with a lap to run and he had no trouble wresting the lead from Hot And Treacherous soon afterwards.

“I knew Maurice had done enough and my bloke got the front under his own steam. He gave me a great feel all the way and when I gave him a wee flap with the rein on the corner I knew he was going to finish like I know he can.”

Orange said he knew they’d run hard early but he was not aware just how fast the winning time was for the race. The horse whistled home in 55.9 and 27.9.

Ray Green catches up with his champ Copy That for a pre-race pep talk.Merv incredulous

Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth described Copy That’s performance as incredible.

“One month ago he won a two mile race, going 4.8 seconds faster than the previous year and now he’s won a mile race, running a fraction of a second outside the track record.

Butterworth praised Green for his arms length supervision of Copy That’s preparation and the work put in by stable foreman Andrew Drake.

“They can’t beat Copy That when the trainer’s been in hospital so how will they beat him in his next two starts?

Orange has confirmed he will drive Copy That in both next week’s Thames Cup (2200m) and the $50,000 Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup (2700m) on New Year’s Eve, both races with a maximum back mark of 30 metres.

After that, Copy That is likely to cross the Tasman again to contest the A$150,000 Ballarat Cup (2710m) on January 21 then the A$500,000 A G Hunter Cup (2760m) at Melton on February 4.

Tonight’s win was the 29th of Copy That’s 55-start career and took his bankroll to $1,367,151.