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
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.”
