Kopua attended to unfinished business in style on the middle day of the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton when he produced an irresistible finish to claim top honours in the main event on the card.

Shamardal’s Group I winning son Lope de Vega started his stud career shuttling to Patinack Farm in Hunter Valley from 2011 to 2014 at fees of $27,500 and then $22,000, but has shot to fame in the years since then with Ballylinch Stud in Ireland announcing his 2025 fee at €175,000.