Copy That good to go but Flying Mile this week might not shed too much light on the Grins

Don’t expect Thursday night’s Waikato Flying Mile to shed much light on what might happen in the $1 million slot race at Cambridge in nine days’ time.

Copy That’s trainer Ray Green thinks the Race By Grins picture might become even more clouded.

The Flying Mile is a virtual shadow Grins field, with seven of the 10 runners engaged, but big race favourites Copy That and Akuta are stranded on the second line and everyone knows Cambridge’s sprint trip favours leaders and trailers.

“Who knows what will happen over the mile on Thursday night?” says Green.

“Leading can be a huge advantage at Cambridge, not many get home over the top there. The straight is a bit shorter than Auckland, only a few metres, but enough to make it good for front-runners.”

Green says it’s going to be hard to translate Thursday’s performances over a mile to the 2200 metres of the Grins, which will have quite a diverse bunch of horses, including the two Australian invaders Better Eclipse and Triple Eight and the last slot holder announced yesterday, No Matter Wat.

“I’d love to win on Thursday but it’s not the main gig is it? So we won’t get too bent out of shape over it.

“There are a few negatives for Copy That, probably too many negatives to be overly confident. He’ll need a bit of luck.”

Green, however, is hoping Copy That’s second row draw might actually play into his hands a little given he has drawn immediately behind the likely leader Nicholas Cage.

“Nicholas Cage is a bit of a runaway and if they cut him loose from that good draw he’ll be committed to lead. And if Nicholas Cage and Chimichurri lock horns early it could get interesting. It might string the field out a little and then hopefully everyone will get their shot.”

Akuta, following out Chimichurri, might also land a forward position, says Green.

Green has been very happy with Copy That since his no fuss win in the City Of Auckland Free-for-all 12 days ago.

“Whether we started on Thursday all hinged on how difficult his run was last time. He didn’t have to over-extend himself so it made sense to line up this week.

“He cops the racing better than most, he’s pretty tough.”

In the TAB’s opening maket for the Flying Mile, Old Town Road, courtesy of his five draw, is favourite at $3.20, with Copy That at $4.20 and Akuta at $5.

Simply Sam faces a huge test first-up in the top grade. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Stablemate Simply Sam, on R70 rated 50 points inferior to Copy That, tackles by far the hardest field he’s met in his career, simply because there were no other races for him on the programme, says Green.

“It will be interesting to see how he shapes up. He’s a nice horse but whether he can morph into a seriously good one remains to be seen.

“If he gets a reasonable trip, which he should do from one, I’m sure he won’t be disgraced.

“I can’t fault anything he’s done recently but it’s been a long time since he raced so the run will improve him.”

It’s been four months since we’ve seen the horse on the racetrack, Green opting to give Simply Sam a decent break after he lost condition when gelded on his return from Australia.

Onyx Shard, centre, wasn’t far from the action on debut despite losing a stack of ground early.Green sees a good future ahead of Onyx Shard who lines up in the fifth race, where she should start one of the favourites.

The Sweet Lou two-year-old ran last of five when debuting at Auckland on March 24 but it was in the Group II Delightful Lady Classic and she did well to be beaten only 3.6 lengths after galloping soon after dispatch.

Green put that error down to inexperience, losing it when eased out of a tight spot by driver Andre Poutama, and he doesn’t expect a repeat on Thursday.

“From what we saw on Saturday - when she won her workout - she’s a very nice filly who has a bit of potential.

“I think she’ll go a good race. These maiden races can be a lot easier than the two-year-old ones. And there’s nothing in this field that should worry her, a lot of them will die maidens.”

Next To Me could also belie his patchy form in the third race.

“His trial last Saturday was excellent. If he races as well as that, from the one draw, I’m sure he’ll be a good chance.

“In that grade he’s quite competitive when he’s right. And he wasn’t right last time. We treated him for a virus after that.”

Riverboy Ben might not have won since his debut in August 2021, but Green says he’s not the worst chance either in the sixth race.

“I thought he was unlucky not to win last time at Cambridge when a horse galloped inside him on the corner and forced Andrew (Sharpe) a bit wider than he wanted to be.

“That was only an amateur field, so this field is slightly stronger, but he went well at the workouts at the weekend.”

After trailing his stablemate Next To Me, Riverboy Ben fought on gamely for third, half a head behind runner-up Sparkie.

“On the second row he’s at mercy of the ones in front, so that kills any confidence, but Blair (Orange) is driving him.”