NZ Messenger Championship – Group l

Harness racing great Mark Purdon gave Copy That the ultimate accolade after the star pacer notched his Group One double in the NZ Messenger Championship at Alexandra Park.

Purdon made a special visit to Lincoln Farms’ stable quarters after the race to congratulate trainer Ray Green on Copy That’s dominant win over Bad To The Bone and his own drive Amazing Dream who couldn’t get closer than 2.2 lengths at the finish.

“Copy That could be the best horse in the country,” Purdon said. “He’s something special.

“It’s good to have a horse like that, it’s good for the game.”

The statement is especially significant because Purdon, who is on a training sabbatical but still helps trainer Hayden Cullen, prepared topliner Self Assured to win the New Zealand Cup last November.

Green was gracious in receiving the praise and said he believed Copy That was every bit as good as Self Assured.

“Disregarding the New Zealand Cup which was a debacle, Self Assured hasn’t been able to get past him. And I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.”

Maurice McKendry, the country’s second most successful reinsman behind Tony Herlihy, described Copy That as “freaky”.

“He was brilliant, better than last week (when he won the Taylor Mile). He got stronger as the race went on and at the half I knew nothing would catch me.”

It wasn’t surprising that Copy That had a one and a half length buffer at the line as he reeled off a closing half in a staggering 54.2, home in 27, to record 3:18.8 for the mobile 2700 metres.

“Sir Lincoln went 3:19.5 in winning the Auckland Cup,” McKendry said of Lincoln Farms’ former headliner.

“He’s just gone 3:18.8 and he did it so easily. And look at him, he’s just about recovered already.”