The Big Lebowski demolishes his rivals by 11 lengths in his first start for Ray Green. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Exciting The Big Lebowski damages a tendon - Merv’s dream of a NZ Cup quinella over
By Barry Lichter • 15 August 2023
Owner Merv Butterworth’s dream of running one-two in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup were dashed today when The Big Lebowski was diagnosed with a hole in a tendon.
The giant pacer, who was expected to give Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green a good second string behind dual cup winner Copy That in November’s $650,000 cup, was scanned today after developing filling around an ankle.
“He’s got a big hole in the flexor tendon in a hind leg, which is unusual,” Green said.
“He’ll need to have three to six months off which is very disappointing for Merv and Meg and I. We had high hopes of him being a cup contender.”
A routine check by Green’s wife Debbie, whose job it is to go over all the horses in Lincoln Farms’ stable, picked up the problem.
Merv Butterworth … dream of a cup quinella is over.“We originally thought he might have an infection in the leg but it didn’t go away so we thought we’d better look at it more seriously.
“Nothing traumatic has happened to him that would cause the injury. The vet thought it could have been hovering for some time, waiting to launch itself, but you wouldn’t know.”
Green said it was hard to tell how serious the injury is yet but one positive sign was that the horse is still not lame.
“We’ve caught it in good time. If we’d pressed on we could have completely lost him as a racehorse.
“We now have to manage him for the next five or six months. He’ll need to be boxed for two or three months and with the proper treatment and a bit of patience there’s a good chance he’ll come back a new man.”
Green said it was a blow to lose The Big Lebowski who was being pointed firmly at the 3200 metre cup.
“He showed in the Auckland Cup he’s up with those other horses.”
Last turning for home, The Big Lebowski powered home to finish only 3.5 lengths from winner Akuta, full of running and hard held behind a wall of horses.
Tha run followed his northern debut for Green when he demolished his rivals by 11 lengths, clocking 2:38.4 for the 2200 metres, in one of the most spectacular wins seen on the course in years.
“He’s a lovely horse but you know what they say ‘speed kills’.”
Copy That … TAB bookies are offering a boosted price of $7 for the cup.Copy That on target
Green reported all was on target for Copy That in his attempt to become only the fourth horse to score a cup hat-trick after Indianapolis, False Step and Terror To Love.
“He’s been back in work for seven weeks after five weeks in the paddock. He’s training down well and I’m very happy with where he’s at.
“He should be ready to go in another three or four weeks. He doesn’t take a lot of work, doesn’t need drilling.”
Green says Copy That will contest the $25,000 Spring Cup (2200m) at Auckland on September 22 if the race gets off the ground.
“But we haven’t been able to rely on getting a start up here for the last three years - we’d be lucky to have three or four horses left up here at that level.”
If the race doesn’t go ahead, Copy That will trip south for the $60,000 Canterbury Classic (2600m) at Addington a week later.
While Copy That is a $5 equal second favourite behind Akuta in the opening cup futures market, bookies were today offering a special boosted price of $7.
“They never seem to take him seriously even though we’ve grandmothered them in the last two years,” Green said.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
