Dunstan Pace – Track Record

It’s very rarely that you hear top driver Maurice McKendry rave about a horse – but he could barely contain himself after Copy That thrashed the best northern pacers at Alexandra Park.

McKendry has been driving for 45 years and reined home 3276 winners who have earned more than $29 million in stakes. But few have impressed him like Lincoln Farms’ missile did when he cleared out to win the Dunstan Pace by five lengths from top mare Belle Of Montana and Triple Eight.

With McKendry only raising the reins a few times in the home straight, and showing him the whip, Copy That hurtled to the line in 1:58.3 for the mobile 1700 metres, a staggering mile rate of 1:52 flat in less than ideal conditions.

And despite the four-year-old clocking a supersonic 53.8 for his last 800 metres and 26.2 for his final 400, McKendry said the horse felt like he could have gone quicker if pushed.

“He was unreal,” said McKendry shaking his head. “When I let him down in the straight it was like he’d just joined in.

“What impressed me the most was the way he did it. It was just so easy for him.

“I thought Sir Lincoln was fast but this guy is better and I think he’ll be more tractable too. You’ll be able to sit him in behind, come out and go whoosh.”

McKendry drove Lincoln Farms’ champion Sir Lincoln to a New Zealand record 2:00.5 for 1700 metres at Alexandra Park in 2013.

Copy That’s time was 2.2 seconds faster than that and only two tenths of a second outside Mossdale Connor’s national mark for colts and geldings.

McKendry talked to excited Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth immediately on returning to the stable.

“You’ve got a nice one Merv,” he said. “I think he’s a very good horse. Ray (Green) reckons he’s the best horse he’s trained and I think he’s right.

“He just skims across the ground.”

On hearing Copy That’s time, McKendry said, given the ease of his win, he believed the horse would be capable of pacing 1:50 for a mile.

Green reckons in the United States Copy That could clock 1:47.