Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker is playing down today's win over his former mentor and rival Russell Coutts in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland.
Team New Zealand had a close battle early in the encounter but benefitted from a wind shift and pulled away to a clear win over Coutts' BMW Oracle crew.
Barker's last big battle against Coutts was in the 2003 America's Cup defence in Auckland when Coutts' Alinghi team defeated the New Zealanders five-nil.
Dean Barker wasn't making much of the personal aspect of the race but conceded it was a good race to win.
Team New Zealand has a bye on Sunday.
In Saturday's other racing, the Greek Challenge had its first win when it beat Shosholoza and there were also wins for Alinghi and Damiani Italia.
