Self Assured, outer, gets the better of Copy That, middle, and Old Town Road, inner, near the finish. PHOTO: Trish Dunell
$4 the lot! Bookies can’t separate top four Grins fancies after electric Flying Mile
By Barry Lichter • 6 April 2023
The revised futures market framed by the TAB bookies for next week’s The Race By Grins reflected what everyone was thinking after an electric Waikato Flying Mile at Cambridge tonight.
Though the inaugural Grins winner Self Assured triumphed after an action-packed mile in near track record time, runner-up Copy That, third-placed Akuta and fourth-placed Old Town Road were all excellent, and now all share the top line of betting on $4.
But, as trainer Ray Green says, that will change on Monday when the barrier draw is done for the $1 million slot race.
“The top four horses got the money tonight and whichever one draws the best will end up favourite.”
Driver Blair Orange had a top report for Green after Copy That went down by a length in the 1:52 flat mile, just four tenths of a second off Adore Me’s track mark set in the same race in 2015.
“Blair said he went real well and now you just need to get me a draw,” Green said.
“I was happy with what I saw. With the speed he showed from the 700 to be still digging in at the finish was good to see.
“He’s pulled up really well so you have to think he’ll be spot on next Friday.”
Self Assured reels in Copy That, with Akuta, extreme left, also eye-catching late for third. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.Copy That, fourth last at the bell, certainly showed a rare brand of speed when he pulled out three wide down the back straight, Natalie Rasmussen tracking his every move on Self Assured.
And the race was really on when Zachary Butcher, enjoying a one-one sit with race favourite Old Town Road, saw Copy That coming and pulled out, forcing Copy That four wide.
Butcher had to eventually relent when Orange kept his foot down and it looked good for Copy That when he turned for home in front.
But the effort told and Self Assured gathered him in close to the line, claiming his first scalp over Copy That since the shambolic start of the 2020 New Zealand Cup.
Akuta made good ground late for third, three-quarters of a length further back, with a neck to Old Town Road who rallied bravely, considering he burned plenty of petrol early when caught three wide on a brutal opening quarter of 26.4.
Kango headed the rest, seven and a half lengths away, with fellow Grins runners B D Joe sixth and Nicholas Cage ninth.
More news in Harness
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Improving Johnny Lincoln prevails in thrilling finish and takes aim at Sires’ Stakes
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Tyson
5.06pm
“He hung badly all the way last time without a boring pole but that will be back on this week. And we’ve taken off his overcheck. He seemed to resent that. I trained him yesterday and he went really well. I expect him to go a lot better.”
Race 1: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.06pm
“Fergie had to do an adjustment on the cart last week and the horse got fractious and just kicked out. I think he would have gone well but their policy is to scratch them if there’s any sign of blood. He’s certainly hard work but he trained well this week - he didn’t put a foot wrong and paced well.”
Race 2: The Rascal
5.46pm
“He still struggles on the corners going full out. He’s OK when they’re tootling along but when they sprint, he finds it difficult. The drivers just have to nurse him and, driven like that, he should be hard to beat.”
Race 4: Kevin Kline
6.58pm
“He never had a chance to get any money last time, when caught four back on the pegs - it was just one of those races. But he hit the line well and I’m pretty sure he’ll go well again. Mantra Blue is a good mare but she only fell in last time and she could be vulnerable from the 30 metre handicap.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
6.58pm
“He steps well and Fergie showed last time he really knows how to drive him. If he’s on the fence he doesn’t put a foot wrong, it’s only when he gets out wide that he can mix it up.”
Race 7: Lincoln Lover
8.46pm
“He’s as honest as they come but he’ll need a run or two to tighten him up. He hasn’t raced for a while and he’s a little fat guy.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.46pm
“He’s a lovely horse who been training really well and he won his recent workout in good time. He has a bit more lick than our other runner Lincoln Lover and he should go well this time in.”
