Curiously-named veteran I’m Easy Boys and a syndicate of first-time owners are chasing a fairy tale Group 1 victory in Saturday night’s Gold 98.3 FM Sale Cup Final (650m).

At start number 72, I’m Easy Boys will make his first appearance at Group 1 level in the Sale Cup, with TAB marking him a $16 outsider from box eight.

Heathcote trainer Ray Henness, who purchased I’m Easy Boys as a three-month old pup and then syndicated him, is no stranger to landing a Gippsland feature, winning the 2010 Traralgon Cup with Dee Winter, which also ran third in the Melbourne Cup the same year.

“A group of guys from Bendigo rang me about getting a dog and I told them to come out to the farm and have a look at a couple of pups I had here,” Henness explained.

“I didn’t know them from a bar of soap and they’d never had a greyhound before – they didn’t have a clue about dogs – but they picked him out.

“It’s a strange name. Apparently it came about when the syndicate were trying to come up with a name for him and the boys kept saying ‘I’m easy!’ They didn’t really care what he was called!

“They’re over the moon about making the final. It’s a long drive from Bendigo to Sale and Boxing Day makes it a bit awkward but maybe we’ll get a couple of owners there.”

I’m Easy Boys’ only previous appearance in a Group event came back in October 2019 when he ran third to future superstar Simon Told Helen in the Great Chase, while last month he was first reserve for the Group 1 Bold Trease (715m).

It was an impressive third to $2.20 Sale Cup favourite Houdini Boy in his Bold Trease heat that convinced Henness to target the Sale Cup.

And his judgement was vindicated when I’m Easy Boys stormed over the top of odds-on favourite Last Hurrah to win his Sale Cup heat in 37.06s, his eighteenth win from 71 starts.

WATCH: I’m Easy Boys run down Last Hurrah from box four in their Sale Cup heat. 

“He’s no superstar but gee he’s honest,” Henness said.

“He’s definitely not the fastest dog I’ve had but he’d be one of the most honest. He tries his heart out every time you take him to the track.

“When he had his first ‘700’ at Sandown in the Bold Trease heats and ran third, running 41.89s himself, I said we’ve got to have a crack at the Sale Cup now.

“Going back six or seven months I would have said 600m was his pet distance and no further but now he’s getting 650m and running it strongly so the plan of attack will be 700m.”

Henness admits I’m Easy Boys’ Cup prospects took a major hit when he drew box eight however he does feel near-record heat winner Houdini Boy could be vulnerable after also drawing awkwardly in five.

“I’ve drawn horrible but that’s the way it goes,” said Henness.

“He’s only a rough place chance from out wide. If he’d drawn one, two or three I would’ve given him a chance but we don’t have any expectations.

“Houdini Boy is a freak but I think he might be in trouble this week.”