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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Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
