Copy That now cup co-favourite after hotshots flop - blood tests for lethargic Self Assured

Bookies turned the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup futures market upside down tonight after the hotshots failed in today’s Flying Stakes, with Copy That promoted to equal favourite.

Lincoln Farms’ flagbearer is now a $4.60 top elect, along with Australian visitor Rock N Roll Do, who eased slightly after completely muffing the start at Ashburton, looping the field to sit parked then battling away for sixth, two and a half lengths from winner B D Joe.

Long time co-favourite Self Assured has slipped dramatically to fifth favourite at $7.50 after he could finish only seventh, three lengths from the winner.

While driver Mark Purdon had to take a strong hold of Self Assured 50 metres from the post when sandwiched between runners, he later told stewards the horse felt lethargic in the running and he would be getting blood tests done.

Self Assured could not go with new-kid-on-the-block Old Town Road when they started their runs in the home stretch, John Dickie’s charge the real eye-catcher in the race, coming from last 250 metres out to earn fourth cup favouritism, in from $21 last week to $6.

B D Joe was initially credited with a closing half of 53.4, but stewards later reviewed the time and amended it to 55.3. Old Town Road was privately timed to clock 54 flat,home in 25.4.

Old Town Road’s sprint was the undoubted highlight, his finishing burst carrying him to within a neck of the winner, with another neck to Spankem, a nose to Alta Wiseguy and half a length to Pembrook Playboy.

Old Town Road lay in and had to be straightened by driver Zachary Butcher passing the 50m, hampering Self Assured, and again lay in near the finish, Butcher later advised to make a greater effort to maintain a straight course. He told stewards he would be recommending gear changes.

Stonewall Stud’s B D Joe is now the third cup fancy on $5 after winning his third race on end with another electric beginning to lead. His effort to stave off all challengers had plenty of merit though driver Ben Butcher will be spoken to in the coming days over his use of the whip in the run home.

Natalie Rasmussen … told to exercise more care after trying to extricate the unlucky Spankem.Spankem holds sixth favouritism at $13 after being held up in the middle stages of the run home. Driver Natalie Rasmussen was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground after angling out near the 50m in search of clear racing room.

Alta Wiseguy, who was less than a length from the winner, is next best fancied at $15.

Before authorising the OK for his fourth placing, stewards checked that the gelding had not gained an advantage when racing inside the final track marker just before the start of the passing lane.

When issued with a warning, driver Tim Williams said he would be recommending gear changes.

South Coast Arden, who broke at the start today and only battled into eighth, 5.3 lengths from the winner, continues to drift in the cup market, now on $41.