Line Up on back foot after abscess threatens to keep him out of Thursday’s Sires’ Stakes heat

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.