Aussie snaps up last slot for $1m The Race by betcha

Big spending Australian Joshua Davine says he's got three horses on his shortlist for the $1m The Race by betcha at Cambridge on April 4.

Davine's N40 Racing and the high profile Boys Get Paid have secured the 10th and last slot for the big pacing feature on Cambridge's Night of Champions.

Each slot is worth $60,000, with the winner taking home $420,000.

"It's not about the money," says Davine, "it's about being part of something big and the excitement and atmosphere. We will also be donating a component of our money to charity."

Since news filtered out that he's involved Davine says the reaction has been incredible.

"The phone is flying."

Which begs the question - who does he have in mind for the big race?

"I think it will be an Australian horse but with Leap To Fame coming that does scare a few people."

The Grant Dixon-trained superstar is a dominating $1.65 favourite in the early markets.

At the moment Davine's tending towards the Luke McCarthy-trained mare Eye Keep Smiling, who's won 17 from 27, Max Delight (33 wins from 132 starts) and the Breckon Farms-bred Rocknroll Hammer (8 wins from 30 starts).

"I hope to have something sorted in the next seven days or so."

"It's great to have N40 Racing and BGP involved," says Cambridge Raceway's Chief Executive Dave Branch, "I know they will really bring the energy and a big marketing and promotional push to what is going to be an epic night's racing."

The same two parties teamed up to back Carter Dalgety in last weekend's Ultimate Drivers Championship at Albion Park in Brisbane.

Earlier this month Davine also spent $350,000 at the National Yearling Sales. Included in the three is a brother to the Group 1 winning Akuta. All three will be trained by Kimberly Butt.

This will be the fourth edition of The Race, with the previous editions being won by Self Assured, Copy That and Merlin.
Champions Night will also feature the $600,000 TAB Trot and two $50,000 3YO Sires' Stakes Semi finals. - HRNZ

Get your tickets for Night of Champions here.