{"id":187,"date":"2025-04-18T19:55:49","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T09:55:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copythat.net.au\/?p=187"},"modified":"2025-05-08T16:20:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T06:20:17","slug":"flying-stakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/copythat.net.au\/index.php\/2025\/04\/18\/flying-stakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Flying Stakes – Group ll"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n PHOTO: Ajay Berry\/Race Images <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
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Low flying with 25.2 last 400<\/h3> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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2400 metre stand, Ashburton October 26, 2020<\/h6> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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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.<\/p>\n

Copy That put up some unworldly sectionals\u00a0in slaying the two New Zealand Cup favourites Self Assured and Spankem in his first test in the South Island against the topliners.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But not one of the All Stars\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t catch him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s deadly on the front end. He\u2019s never been run down once he\u2019s led.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a spectacular little bugger and he\u2019s definitely better left handed – he liked the big sweeping corners here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green said he gained great satisfaction from Copy That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people were saying Mark Purdon\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the only question mark before but now he\u2019s raced the very best – and beaten them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe All Stars\u2019 Mercedes got rolled comprehensively – they were never going to catch him. If the race had gone another 800 metres they wouldn\u2019t have beaten him.\u201d<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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