Ray brings Copy That home but his future is guarded - the next six weeks will be crucial

Copy That has just arrived home at Lincoln Farms in Pukekohe, his racing future guarded.

Only after the next six weeks will it become more apparent whether the dual IRT New Zealand Cup winner could race again, says trainer Ray Green.

But Matamata Veterinary Services’ Barbara Hunter has warned Green that not many horses come back from similar knee injuries.

X-rays pinponted the problem to two small carpal bones in Copy That’s off fore knee.

“If the fracture line opens up in the next few weeks and he doesn’t come sound it’s going to be very debatable whether he can come back as a racehorse.

“He has to be confined to his box for the next six weeks, with five minutes of hand walking a day and a pick of grass.

“We’ll X-ray him in a week to see if there are any changes and then again in another six weeks.

”It’s a crucial period. If he comes sound we can make a plan on what to do. If he’s still lame in six weeks it will throw a completely different light on things.”

The horse’s knee is a complex area of small bones and ligaments.Green said Hunter had told him knee injuries were not easy to handle, with as many as 10 small bones and ligaments all combining to form the three main joints.

“It’s a complex area with lots of little bones and at the moment we don’t know how to proceed. If we do a scan we might find other problems but that has inherent risk in itself.”

With the need for a general anesthetic, there was a risk of the horse doing irreparable damage when trying to stand while it was still un-coordinated.

Green said owner Merv Butterworth was consulting experts at the Ballarat Veterinary Practice, where Kiwi Brian Anderson oversaw Copy That’s last recovery from a fractured splint in his off hind leg.

“Apparently they have a standing scanner there.”

Green said only after six weeks would they know enough to make the best decision for the horse.

“He’s been a great little horse and I’d personally hate to see him come back and get bested by inferior animals. That would be a bad way to finish his racing career.

“You’ve got to remember he’s rising seven and he wouldn’t be coming back as a maiden, he has to come back at the highest level which makes it more difficult. You have to put more work and stress on his bones to get him back to where he was.

“He’s been a marvellous horse for everyone who had a hand on him and for me particularly. I got to drive him, even Lincoln Farms has benefitted, keeping its name in lights.

“But I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel at the moment.”