Ray Green looking over Copy That - “you have to roll with the punches.”
Scintigraphy reveals knee injury but Copy That having X-rays now to confirm exact issue
By Barry Lichter • 3 October 2023
Trainer Ray Green is hoping X-rays will reveal the exact nature of the injury which has ruled Copy That out of the $650,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.
Green floated Copy That to Matamata today to undergo nuclear scintigraphy after he had been “noticeably off” since last Friday.
“Originally we thought it could be an abscess, as his foot was hot, and we were trying to resolve that, but the scintigraphy lit up his knee.
“We haven’t determined the full extent of the injury yet - they’re doing X-rays as we speak.
“Maybe he did have an abscess as well but his problem is a bit more sinister than that.
“Until we get a handle on it I don’t know what his future is but he won’t be in the New Zealand Cup and it’s going to be six months before he’s a racehorse again.”
Green said if the injury was a stress fracture it could be very hard to detect - “but I’m stabbing in the dark a bit.”
Green said Copy That wasn’t badly lame.
“He’s a happy horse, feeling great and bouncing, and walking around he’s fine, you wouldn’t notice anything. But when he gets out of a walk he’s noticeably off.”
Green theorised Copy That might have been feeling the knee for some weeks and it could have affected his performances in his first two starts when beaten into the placings.
While obviously disappointed, Green said he’d learned to roll with the punches.
“You have to be philosophical, he can’t go on forever. He’s done a fantastic job - not many do what he’s achieved.
“But he’s overcome hurdles before - he’s come back from a broken splint bone and won two cups and The Race by Grins and a Ballarat Cup - so who knows what he can do?
“He’s capable of returning but he’s a lot older now of course.”
Copy That’s record stands at 68 starts for 33 wins, 18 placings and $2,019,401 in stakes.
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Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
