X-rays reveal Copy That’s fracture continues to heal well and he’s started walking rehab

X-rays show Copy That is making an excellent recovery from injury but trainer Ray Green says he won’t be ready in time to contest the Queensland winter carnival in July.

Instead, Green and owner Merv Butterworth will focus on a campaign aimed at defending his New Zealand Trotting Cup crown in November.

Copy That has been at Laura Dixon’s Dowling View rehabilitation centre near Ballarat in Victoria since fracturing a splint bone in his off hind leg last December and a fourth round of X-rays have revealed what Green calls “spectacular” healing.

While the fracture lines have not completely disappeared in the X-rays, Ballarat Veterinary Practice’s Dr Brian Anderson reported further good progress in the month since his previous X-ray.

“There is a hard bony callus but it does not appear to overly compress the suspensory ligament and this was confirmed with ultrasound.

“We are on track to achieve our goal of full healing of the fracture without the formation of an excessive bony lump which could interfere with the suspensory ligament and result in persistent pain and lameness.”

When examined, Copy That was “full of himself” and not lame in either a straight line or circle trot.

And he has now started the first stage of his rehab - walking on a treadmill.

Anderson prescribed walking for five minutes twice daily for the first week, followed by a week of 10 minutes twice daily then 15 minutes twice daily for two weeks.

Anderson said he anticipated Copy That would be fit to fly back to New Zealand towards the end of April.

“If there has been complete healing, he may then be able to go back into work.”

Green, who arrived home on Wednesday after two months stuck in Australia because of a lack of MIQ space, had hoped Copy That would be able to return to work a month earlier so he had time to get fit for Brisbane where he raced so well last July.

“I thought he’d be good to go by the end of this month but the Ballarat vet said maybe give him another month after that.

“The New Zealand Cup becomes the obvious target now and he’ll have plenty of time for a couple of lead-up races. After that, the sky’s the limit.”