Flying Stakes – Group ll

Harness racing afficionados could not remember any horse running a faster last 400 metres in New Zealand than Copy That took to claim the Ashburton Flying Stakes.

Copy That put up some unworldly sectionals in slaying the two New Zealand Cup favourites Self Assured and Spankem in his first test in the South Island against the topliners.

The little horse was low flying in front over the last 800 metres, reeling off 53.4, faster than the previous four winners of the race in Spankem (54.4), Eamon Maguire (54.2), Lazarus (53.7) and Lazarus (55.2). Only 2015 winner Smolda went faster, recording 53.1.

But not one of the All Stars’ winners went anywhere near as fast as Copy That over their last 400 – he recorded a sizzling 25.2, whereas none of the others broke 26.

Trainer Ray Green was proud when he heard the fantastic times Copy That recorded and said, as soon as he saw him lead, he knew his rivals wouldn’t catch him.

“He’s deadly on the front end. He’s never been run down once he’s led.

“He’s a spectacular little bugger and he’s definitely better left handed – he liked the big sweeping corners here.”

Green said he gained great satisfaction from Copy That’s triumph which saw the horse elevated sharply from $6.50 to $2.80 equal favourite with Self Assured for the $540,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 10.

“A lot of people were saying Mark Purdon’s pair would be too good for him. But I think the form in Auckland is just as good as it is in the south, maybe better.

“That was the only question mark before but now he’s raced the very best – and beaten them.

“The All Stars’ Mercedes got rolled comprehensively – they were never going to catch him. If the race had gone another 800 metres they wouldn’t have beaten him.”