Hooray: Ray coming home in three weeks and Copy That might not be far behind him

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is counting down the days until he can fly home - but he hasn’t been idle while locked out of New Zealand.

Green, who has been stuck in Victoria since the end of December when Copy That fractured a splint bone, is booked to return on a March 2 flight, under the Government’s new isolate-at-home regime.

And there’s a chance Copy That won’t be far behind him to continue his rehab at Lincoln Farms after another excellent vet report.

Green, 76, will be fighting fit when he rejoins the team at Pukekohe after a stint helping out trainer Anton Golino at Pat Driscoll’s showcase Yabby Dam Farms which covers 263ha on the outskirts of Ballarat.

The 50 metre pool at Yabby Dam Farms on the outskirts of Ballarat.“I’ve been here for the last three weeks, driving up to eight horses in a morning - it’s keeping me off the streets.

“They’ve got some beautiful animals here, with international pedigrees, and I’ve driven Im Ready Jet a couple of times. She’d be one of the best trotters in the country.”

Im Ready Jet, who has won 16 of 36 starts, finished third in last weekend’s Great Southern Star Final after a sensational recovery from an early break in a heat.

Yabby Dam Farms, where Aucklander Jack MacKinnon co-trained until last August, isn’t far from Laura Dixon’s Dowling View equine rehabilitation centre where Copy That has been resting since his injury.

“The experts were very happy with his latest X-ray and (respected vet) Alastair MacLean predicts he’ll be good to go home by the end of the month.

“It will be up to the people at the Ballarat Vet Clinic and (owner) Merv Butterworth of course but everything is looking good.

“He’ll be X-rayed again in a couple of weeks and we should know then what we’re doing. But I think it would be best for him to finish his rehab at home and then we can start him back training.”

Copy That’s New Zealand Cup win was the highlight of a memorable season.Outstanding season

While nothing went right on Copy That’s aborted summer campaign, Harness Racing New Zealand figures show just what a roll Green, Butterworth and the horse had been on right until the last month of the extended 17 month season.

Copy That seemingly topped the list of all performers in New Zealand, earning $638,142 in 22 starts, the result of 13 wins and five placings. (His final start at Cranbourne is not listed but earned him $1500.)

Among his wins were three at Group I level, the New Zealand Cup, Taylor Mile and Messenger, plus three at Group II.

But when Australian earnings are added to America-bound Amazing Dream’s tally of $315,961, she becomes the season’s heroine. Her 10 starts in Australia after the Harness Jewels saw her record four wins and five placings and earn another A$447,350.

Next closest on money won was Self Assured with $631,562 from eight wins and, incredibly, just $557 behind, was the outstanding trotter Sundees Son with $631,005.

Three trotters made the top dozen, the others Bolt For Brilliance with $340,605 and three-year-old Five Wise Men, winner of nine of his 11 starts, with $229,809.

The top dozen money earners in the extended 17 month season.