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
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went better last time when third. She tries hard but doesn’t win out of turn and there look to be a few here that are better than her.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.32pm
“He’s been racing well and won two nice stakes at Manawatu so we can’t complain. But he’s up in grade and, even with a head start, I anticipate horses like Little Spike and The Surfer would be much too good for him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Whats Up The Hill
6.29pm
“We had to change his sulky on the track just before the start of the race when the hub collapsed on one of the wheels. The replacement was a bit short and he was touching the wheels in the running. And when Paramount Lady came off his back and swished round him at the 400, he tried to go with her and didn’t have the ringcraft to stay down trotting. Apart from that I thought he went super.”
Race 8: Lincoln La Moose
9.23pm
“He was a certainty beaten last start at Cambridge but how could he beat these horses who are far higher graded? It once again shows just what a shortage of horses we have in the north. He’ll just have to go round to drop points.”
