Copy That warm favourite after Grins draw and Zac tight lipped on Old Town Road tactics
By Barry Lichter • 10 April 2023
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.”
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”
