
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
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
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Watch this workout and you’ll see why Ray’s rapt to see Debbie back at Auckland on Friday
Dreams Of Eric puts nightmare behind him and is training ‘super’ for Thursday night
Sugar Ray finally finds his mojo, outpunching Tyson, but Ray’s still guarded about the future
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.55pm
“It’s not a great field and I think he can beat them, the way he’s been working. The fall hasn’t affected him and he’s still on his game. He’s been training real super, the best he ever has, and he feels sharper all round. We’ll probably change things up this time from the outside of the gate to make sure he gets his confidence back - I’ll tell ‘Harry’ to go back and make a mid-race move.”

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: The Rascal
5.27pm
“It’s a slight step-up in class but the maiden he won was quite strong. I can’t label him but he’s a very honest sort of dude, who’s sure to go another good race.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.55pm
“The six draw’s a bit ordinary, like all of ours, but hopefully one of the three will get lucky. He’s got a bit of speed and I think he’ll be pretty competitive. It didn’t surprise me that he went so well fresh-up - he’d been trialling and training really well.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lover
5.55pm
“Fergie chose him over Johnny Lincoln and thinks he has potential. He’s drawn the inside of the second row so will need luck but he’s very honest.”
Race 2: Johnny Lincoln
5.55pm
“He’s got a tough draw but if he gets a nice trip and can get a suck into it at the right time, he’ll be the one to beat. He has more experience than the others and has been racing older horses.”
Race 4: Tyson
6.51pm
“You can’t fault how he’s going. He sat parked and absorbed plenty of pressure last week, but he likes doing it tough.”
Race 4: Debbie Lincoln
6.51pm
“I’m expecting her to go a good race in what isn’t an overly daunting field. The only things that might stop her is her lack of race fitness and the bad draw. I can see how the draw could inconvenience her - I’m picking Maurice will go back - but, if she gets a half-decent trip, she could still roll that lot as she’s a classy filly.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.55pm
“He finally live up to his earlier hype last week and let’s hope he keeps it up now. I think he can stay handy from the pole. On one of the few occasions he’s been asked to leave the gate fast, he led and won.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.55pm
“He didn’t have the best trip last time. He was caught up dodging breakers at the start but he got home well (last quarter in 26.9) and was picking up Mantra Blue again close to home. It’s an even field but big Kev is always a danger. He’s such a nice horse.”