Copy That warm favourite after Grins draw and Zac tight lipped on Old Town Road tactics

Dual IRT New Zealand Cup champ Copy That has opened a warm $2.20 favourite after drawing beautifully for Friday night’s $1 million The Race By Grins.

Trainer Ray Green owes IRT boss Richard Cole a beer after he draw barrier four for Cambridge’s much-awaited slot race.

Copy That fared second best of the four favourites for the slot race in this evening’s special barrier draw, where connections drew their own mystery numbers, only Old Town Road doing better one inside him in three, seeing him made a firm second favourite at $3.

That means that when the emergency Smiffy’s Terror comes out, Old Town Road will start from two and Copy That three, a grid which sets up an exciting first few hundred metres.

Inaugural Grins winner Self Assured and Akuta were not so lucky, drawing gates 10 and 11, seeing their prices drift to $4.50 and $11.

Copy That’s trainer Ray Green was thrilled with the draw.

“I’m more than happy. The ultimum draw would have been two, three, four or even five. I would have been happy with any of those.

“We’ll get our chance from three. There shouldn’t be any excuses.”

Green said he expected Zachary Butcher and Old Town Road would have no trouble crossing pole runner No Matter Wat at the start.

“Old Town Road showed a bit of gate speed the other night but I doubt they’ll want to lead on him. Zac is pretty smart and he won’t want to stay there and get mauled.”

Butcher was keeping mum tonight when asked on SENZ radio if he would be leading or taking a trail.

“I’ve had six or seven people ring me since the draw asking the same question and I told them the same - you’ll have to find out.”

Butcher said he believed Old Town Road would be a sharper horse than when fourth in last week’s Waikato Flying Mile.

“He blew out halfway down the straight and had a good blow afterwards. But John (Dickie) had a plan to have him peaking for this race.”

Butcher, who declared “it’s going to be a real go” is on record saying Old Town Road is one of the few horses he has driven with Copy That’s speed.

Co-trainer Mark Purdon was philosophical about his two best chances drawing the second row.

“Copy That and Old Town Road have the advantage but Self Assured and Akuta follow them out and may take up a handy position.”