$4 the lot! Bookies can’t separate top four Grins fancies after electric Flying Mile

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.