Ray Green has been keeping busy working horses at Yabby Dam Farms outside Ballarat.
Hooray: Ray coming home in three weeks and Copy That might not be far behind him
By Barry Lichter • 9 February 2022
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is counting down the days until he can fly home - but he hasn’t been idle while locked out of New Zealand.
Green, who has been stuck in Victoria since the end of December when Copy That fractured a splint bone, is booked to return on a March 2 flight, under the Government’s new isolate-at-home regime.
And there’s a chance Copy That won’t be far behind him to continue his rehab at Lincoln Farms after another excellent vet report.
Green, 76, will be fighting fit when he rejoins the team at Pukekohe after a stint helping out trainer Anton Golino at Pat Driscoll’s showcase Yabby Dam Farms which covers 263ha on the outskirts of Ballarat.
The 50 metre pool at Yabby Dam Farms on the outskirts of Ballarat.“I’ve been here for the last three weeks, driving up to eight horses in a morning - it’s keeping me off the streets.
“They’ve got some beautiful animals here, with international pedigrees, and I’ve driven Im Ready Jet a couple of times. She’d be one of the best trotters in the country.”
Im Ready Jet, who has won 16 of 36 starts, finished third in last weekend’s Great Southern Star Final after a sensational recovery from an early break in a heat.
Yabby Dam Farms, where Aucklander Jack MacKinnon co-trained until last August, isn’t far from Laura Dixon’s Dowling View equine rehabilitation centre where Copy That has been resting since his injury.
“The experts were very happy with his latest X-ray and (respected vet) Alastair MacLean predicts he’ll be good to go home by the end of the month.
“It will be up to the people at the Ballarat Vet Clinic and (owner) Merv Butterworth of course but everything is looking good.
“He’ll be X-rayed again in a couple of weeks and we should know then what we’re doing. But I think it would be best for him to finish his rehab at home and then we can start him back training.”
Copy That’s New Zealand Cup win was the highlight of a memorable season.Outstanding season
While nothing went right on Copy That’s aborted summer campaign, Harness Racing New Zealand figures show just what a roll Green, Butterworth and the horse had been on right until the last month of the extended 17 month season.
Copy That seemingly topped the list of all performers in New Zealand, earning $638,142 in 22 starts, the result of 13 wins and five placings. (His final start at Cranbourne is not listed but earned him $1500.)
Among his wins were three at Group I level, the New Zealand Cup, Taylor Mile and Messenger, plus three at Group II.
But when Australian earnings are added to America-bound Amazing Dream’s tally of $315,961, she becomes the season’s heroine. Her 10 starts in Australia after the Harness Jewels saw her record four wins and five placings and earn another A$447,350.
Next closest on money won was Self Assured with $631,562 from eight wins and, incredibly, just $557 behind, was the outstanding trotter Sundees Son with $631,005.
Three trotters made the top dozen, the others Bolt For Brilliance with $340,605 and three-year-old Five Wise Men, winner of nine of his 11 starts, with $229,809.
The top dozen money earners in the extended 17 month season.
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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.
