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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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
