The cutaway piece of the blue flip flop outlines the abscess which burst out of Line Up’s heel this week.
Line Up on back foot after abscess threatens to keep him out of Thursday’s Sires’ Stakes heat
By Barry Lichter • 29 September 2019
Crack colt Line Up is recovering from a foot abscess and in danger of missing Thursday’s first Sires’ Stakes heat at Cambridge.
And while Green is frustrated at the setback with the speedy three-year-old, he at least now knows why Line Up wasn’t at his best when narrowly beaten at Auckland nine days ago.
“He was fine when he worked on Wednesday but was lame when he got back to the stable and we found an abscess had blown out of his heel.
“It could have been brewing for a month and would certainly explain way he galloped out of the gate the other night and put in those funny steps.
“We were all scratching our heads a bit afterwards but this answers all the questions.”
Green has cut away a corner section of Line Up’s foot and fitted him with flip flops to take the weight off the area and has noted significant improvement in the horse in the last two days.
“Yesterday he could hardly put his foot on the ground but today there’s vast improvement and he’s feeling a lot better in himself.
“I was able to jog him and he wasn’t too bad, but still off.
How long it will take to resolve I don’t know but I’ll just play it by ear. I’d want to be able to work him on Tuesday if he’s to run at Cambridge.”
Green says if he’d been asked yesterday whether Line Up could be fit to start on Thursday he’d have said definitely not.
“But now I’d say he has a chance if he continues to improve at this rate.”
Green says it’s not the end of the world if Line Up misses this week as he will have another chance in the Sires’ Stakes heat at Auckland on October 25.
That would be Line Up’s last opportunity to qualify for the $170,000 November 12 Final at Addington, though, as only five heats are now run and the last of the three southern heats is programmed for the same night as Auckland.
“It would be a shame for him to miss out as he’s such a talented colt.”
Green won the Sires’ Stakes Final with Sir Lincoln 10 years ago when the race was worth more, at $184,000.
Green will have the favourite on Thursday regardless of whether Line Up makes it with rapidly improving colt Copy That in top form, judging by his brilliant last start success and effortless win at the Pukekohe workouts yesterday.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
