Trainer Ray Green with Copy That, whose Victorian campaign has hit a snag.
Copy That lame after paddock accident - Ray anxiously waiting for vet to assess damage
By Barry Lichter • 26 December 2021
Copy That’s Australian campaign has had another setback, an injury forcing him out of tonight’s Sokyola Sprint at Ballarat.
Trainer Ray Green does not yet know the extent of the damage to the horse’s off hind leg and what impact it will have on the rest of the horse’s summer campaign in Victoria.
“It’s a bit of a worry as he’s very lame,” said Green after discovering the horse must have kicked out at a rail in his paddock.
“He can barely put his foot to the ground and I’m just waiting for the vet to come.”
The injury, just below his hock, is the latest blow in a campaign which Green says has been a disaster from day one.
First Green’s departure from Auckland was delayed a day because of Covid paper work, preventing him from overseeing the horse’s prep for the Cranbourne Cup or even attending the meeting.
Then in last Saturday’s race, Copy That endured a torrid trip before weakening to last.
Green had been confident the New Zealand Cup winner was back to his best, however, the way he felt in training last week.
“It’s an occupational hazard. You have to be philiosophical about these things or you couldn’t do this job.
“The best scenario is he makes a quick recovery and we can continue his campaign without too much interruption.”
Copy That’s main mission is the A$500,000 Hunter Cup on February 5 and his choice of lead-up races includes:
* the A$70,000 Bendigo Pacing Cup on January 8
* the A$60,000 Shepparton Cup on January 15
* the A$110,000 Ballarat Pacing Cup on January 22 and
* the A$50,000 Casey Classic at Melton on January 29.
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A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
