Governor’s Bay powers up the passing lane to nab Rocknroll Rod at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.
Just when you need it, up steps the Governor - but the hulk has his issues too
By Barry Lichter • 23 March 2019
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green could not have timed better the return to form of incredible hulk Governor’s Bay at Alexandra Park.
Within minutes of the former southerner striking first-up for Green on Friday night, he was on the phone enjoying a congratulatory call from Australian owner Merv Butterworth.
Just one day earlier Green had the unenviable task of telling Butterworth that his reinvigorated pacer Zealand Star almost certainly has cracked a pastern.
Initial tests when Zealand Star suddenly went lame on Tuesday suggested he had injured a stifle.
But a second round of X-rays, this time by Christchurch vet Lindsay Colwell, now point to a hairline fracture of the pastern.
Zealand Star in winning form at Cambridge. He has a suspected hairline fracture of the pastern. PHOTO: FokusPhotography.“It’s not confirmed,’’ says Green. “It’s difficult to get a good picture but Lindsay is confident that’s the problem. She’ll X-ray it again in a couple of weeks.
“It’s only a hairline fracture - if it had been a clean break we’d have been in trouble - so it’s not terrible, it’s more inconvenient.’’
Zealand Star, a recent track record-breaker at Cambridge, now faces time out to allow the bone to mend but Governor’s Bay can more than carry the torch judging by his tenacious finish from the trail to nab leader Rocknroll Rod on the post.
But Green will need Colwell’s skills to help him get the best out of Governor’s Bay too because while his win might have looked clinical, driver Zachary Butcher came back to scale with aching arms after the horse locked on one rein virtually throughout.
“He’s not the soundest horse in the world,’’ says Green.
“It doesn’t matter which way round he goes, he hangs to the right.
“They tried to find the cause of it down south and couldn’t but I’m sure Lindsay will be all over it next time she comes up.
“We need to get him better next time but, if we can sort his problems, he could be a nice horse with a handy future.’’
Governor’s Bay again had a good blow after Friday night’s race, his first for Green, indicating he’s not yet at full fitness.
But he still clocked a solid 2:42.8 for the 2200 metres, closing in 57.5 and 28.7 to score by a head.
It was the first win by the giant five-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover for more than a year and his first in five starts for Butterworth.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
