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.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 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.