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.
More news in Harness
Forget the form line, Nemo is in Saturday’s race at Albion Park ‘right up to his ears’
Fine Cambridge double but Ray’s packing Lincoln Cove off to Matamata for scintigraphy
34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
