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.
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Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
