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
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
