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.”“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.