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Trainer Ray Green reports to Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth after tonight’s City Of Auckland Free-for-all.

Ray’s got the Grins after Copy That’s clinical win sees odds slashed for $1 million slot race

TAB bookies slashed Copy That’s odds for the $1 million slot race from $6 to $4.20 after his no fuss win in tonight’s $45,000 City Of Auckland Free-for-all.

But, despite the ease of his win, and a glowing report from leading driver Blair Orange, the betting picture for The Race By Grins got even murkier, with only 50 cents now separating the top four favourites.

Akuta’s late charge from last into fifth saw him promoted to $4 favourite, Old Town Road’s strong fourth earned him a $4.50 tag, on the same line as Self Assured who locked wheels with Alta Wiseguy turning for home and galloped.

Early Grins favourite B D Joe, who did not line up tonight, slips back to fifth fancy at $6.50, with Australian Better Eclipse on $13 and Nicholas Cage, last tonight after sitting parked, on $17.

Copy That has Kango well covered at the finish.Copy That has Kango well covered at the finish.As good as Copy That was tonight, untested to score by one and a quarter lengths, trainer Ray Green admitted “draws will be everything” come April 14.

“If we lob the same draw we’ll be laughing our heads off. If we get a bad draw, we’ll be up against it.”

But Green said he couldn’t be happier with Copy That who clocked a slick 2:39.7, six-tenths of a second faster than in his win in the race two years ago. His mile rate for the 2200 metres equated to 1:56.8, and he was able to dawdle over his last 800 in 57.1 and 400 in 27.8.

“It was a nice comfortable win against the best horses in the country,” Green said. “They were never going to beat him once he found the top.”

Expected to lead off the gate, Orange didn’t panic when David Butcher sooled Kango ahead of him into the first turn.

As soon as they lined up for the run down the back straight though he was off and around Kango.

“I wanted to drive him positively and he got the lead pretty comfortably,” Orange said.

“I waited until the sprint lane then really stepped it up.”

Blair Orange brings Copy That back to scale after his 32nd winBlair Orange brings Copy That back to scale after his 32nd winWhen Orange kicked out the ear plugs 130 metres from home, Copy That already had the race under control, easily holding Kango and Smiffy’s Terror.

“It wasn’t too hard a run for him,” said Orange who believed Copy That had plenty left in the tank.

But it was Orange’s next statement that had Green really buzzing: “He felt like he does when he’s right.”

And when Green’s phone buzzed, Green re-iterated to Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth just how much of a class act the horse was.

“He’s a beautifully balanced runner. That was just clinical.

“You guys must be getting sick of this,” said Green of the horse’s 32nd win from just 61 starts.

Just whether Copy That races again before the Grins is undecided.

“We could run in the Waikato Flying Mile eight days before the slot race, but that’s only an option at this stage.”

Green said it would depend on how Copy That came through tonight’s race and progressed in the next 10 days. Running round for $45,000 was an attractive option though when the alternative was a spin at the trials for no money.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 1: Whats Up The Hill
4.59pm

“Fergie wasn’t exuding praise for him after his last start when he galloped away. But we’ve taken everything off him this time, no half hopples, no fixed deafeners, and that’s the same as when he won at Auckland last prep.”

Race 5: Lincoln La Moose
6.45pm

“The winner had it handed to him last time, when he went only 2:45.9, and that meant he outsprinted our boy with a 56.3 last half. When we won the previous week he went 2:40. He likes to roll along, so it will be tempo dependent. It’s his first go from a stand and only second at 2700 metres so we’ll find out if he likes it.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
6.49pm

“We’ve never really tried to leave the gate with her but, from the inside draw, she has the advantage and should lead or trail. You’d have to say on her last run she’s the best chance of our trio.”

Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.49pm

“He’s thriving and looking very well. He was only just beaten last time and, from two, should get every chance.”

Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.49pm

“His closing sectionals were very fast last week and he never goes a bad race. The draw isn’t as desirable, but the small field helps.”

Race 4: Tyson
7.21pm

“He had to do a lot of work last week. You can never count him out because he’s so tough.”

Race Images - Harness