Zealand Star pictured winning at Cambridge. PHOTO: FokusPhotography.
More tests for Zealand Star after sudden lameness baffles Green
By Barry Lichter • 20 March 2019
Trainer Ray Green is hoping a second vet can find what’s ailing Zealand Star who suddenly went lame on Tuesday.
Zealand Star, who has proved a revelation since Green took the horse over for Australian owner Merv Butterworth, walked to morning trackwork seemingly fine but was lame as soon as stepped off in a pace.
“We had lots of X-rays taken but couldn’t find anything,’’ says Green. “It’s in the stifle area but it must be a soft tissue thing.
“He’s obviously done something to himself in the night. He walks OK but once he’s out of a walk he’s lame as.’’
Green has summoned another vet to Lincoln Farms tomorrow in the hope they can find the problem.
The stifle area is the largest and most complicated joint in the horse’s body and injuries can be notoriously difficult to pinpoint.
“Until they suss out what’s wrong I have no way of knowing how long he will be out.’’
Zealand Star was to have run in the sixth race at Auckland on Friday night, back to a mobile after again struggling with a standing start last week.
Five starts back at Cambridge he showed what he was capable of when setting a track record 1:54.8 for 1700 metres.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
