Copy That checks out fine so it’s all systems go for Queensland on Friday

It was with some relief for trainer Ray Green that blood and vet checks today gave Copy That and American Dealer a clean bill of health.

While discovering an issue might have explained why the pair raced flat at the Cambridge Jewels last Sunday, Green was anxious about what that might have meant for the pair’s imminent Australian campaign.

But the all clear means they will join stablemates Tommy Lincoln and Captain Nemo on a flight to Australia on Friday.

“The blood test was fine and they’ve checked out all good,” said Green.

“We’ll just have to put it down to a bad day and move on.”

Copy That, right, checks out who’s next door in the wash bay at Cambridge after his Jewels run.Green can only guess that Copy That might again have been troubled by his feet in the Four-Year-Old Emerald when driver Maurice McKendry reported he didn’t feel right even scoring up behind the mobile gate and showed none of his usual brilliant speed.

“We used to put pads on his feet, which were prone to getting sore, but when the farrier said he should be all right we took them off a month or so ago. I’m pretty sure that’s all that was making him uncomfortable on Sunday.

“I shouldn’t have taken them off but they’re back on now.”

Green said he and the team of four were leaving slightly earlier than anticipated to take advantage of a rare direct flight to Brisbane, meaning the horses wouldn’t be stressed by a 700km truck trip north from Sydney.

Green will be away with the team for about seven weeks, until the end of the winter carnival which climaxes on July 24 with the A$250,000 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship.

Two weeks earlier Copy That will take up an invitation to contest the inaugural A$250,000 The Rising Sun, where he will meet fellow Kiwi Krug and a host of top Australian three and four-year-olds including Expensive Ego.

American Dealer’s main mission is the A$100,000 Queensland Derby on July 24.

Green will train from the south-east Queensland property of trainer Mark Dux at Woongoolba, 50km south east of Brisbane and 40km north of Surfers Paradise.

“It’s in the cane fields and he has a well appointed property with a 1000 metre track, new barns and plenty of paddocks.”