Lincoln Farms welcomes back Copy That and latest reports positive about The Big Lebowski
By Barry Lichter • 23 August 2024
Champion pacer Copy That will rejoin trainer Ray Green at Lincoln Farms on Saturday, with no plans to tilt at a third New Zealand Trotting Cup win in November.
But all going well, Green says the seven-year-old could be set for the Auckland Cup, newly repositioned to New Years Eve at Alexandra Park.
It’s 11 months since Copy That last raced when wear and tear was detected in his knee.
Sparing no expense, owner Merv Butterworth flew the horse to Victoria for an MRI scan at the Ballarat Veterinary Clinic where bone and cartilage fragments were removed.
The horse returned to New Zealand in May and since then has been doing rehab on a water treadmill at Margaret Park in Matangi.
Green says Copy That will be taken along quietly and have regular vet monitoring but he is hopeful the $2 million winner will make a return to the track late in the year for Merv and Meg Butterworth.
Green’s report on the progress of his other sidelined big gun, The Big Lebowski, is also very positive after a long stint on the water treadmill.
“He came back in good shape and has been in work for two months. He’s training down really well and is only a week or two off trialling.
“He’s nominated for the New Zealand Cup and I’m hopeful he’ll make it. He’s on the right track but who knows how far he’ll take us?”
Green said the giant seven-year-old was holding up really well with no sign of the tendon injury which stopped him 14 months ago.
“He had a hind tendon bow, which is very rare, so the thought is it was a traumatic injury - he must have kicked out at something.”
The Big Lebowski announced himself on the northern stage with this 11-length annihilation at the Park.The Big Lebowski, brought north from Southland in May, 2023, demolished his rivals by 11 lengths in his Auckland debut, clocking 2:38.4 for the 2200 metres, in one of the most spectacular wins seen on the course in years.
The performance earned him a tilt at the Auckland Cup a week later when, last turning for home, he powered home to finish only 3.5 lengths from winner Akuta, full of running and hard held behind a wall of horses.
His injury wrecked Green’s plans to target the New Zealand Cup but, a year later, he’s on the same path.
Two races are carded at Alexandra Park for northern cup aspirants - the $40,000 Spring Cup (2200m) on September 20 and the $40,000 Holmes DG (2700m) on October 4, both races for 65 and faster rated pacers with a maximum back mark of 20 metres.
As the winner of only six races and rated 71 he will enjoy a start on his cup rivals.
More news in Harness
Emotional night at the Park as Sammy Lincoln steps up for John and his sister Maree
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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
Update: Scratched
“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.”
