Governor’s Bay powers up the passing lane to nab Rocknroll Rod at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.
Just when you need it, up steps the Governor - but the hulk has his issues too
By Barry Lichter • 23 March 2019
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green could not have timed better the return to form of incredible hulk Governor’s Bay at Alexandra Park.
Within minutes of the former southerner striking first-up for Green on Friday night, he was on the phone enjoying a congratulatory call from Australian owner Merv Butterworth.
Just one day earlier Green had the unenviable task of telling Butterworth that his reinvigorated pacer Zealand Star almost certainly has cracked a pastern.
Initial tests when Zealand Star suddenly went lame on Tuesday suggested he had injured a stifle.
But a second round of X-rays, this time by Christchurch vet Lindsay Colwell, now point to a hairline fracture of the pastern.
Zealand Star in winning form at Cambridge. He has a suspected hairline fracture of the pastern. PHOTO: FokusPhotography.“It’s not confirmed,’’ says Green. “It’s difficult to get a good picture but Lindsay is confident that’s the problem. She’ll X-ray it again in a couple of weeks.
“It’s only a hairline fracture - if it had been a clean break we’d have been in trouble - so it’s not terrible, it’s more inconvenient.’’
Zealand Star, a recent track record-breaker at Cambridge, now faces time out to allow the bone to mend but Governor’s Bay can more than carry the torch judging by his tenacious finish from the trail to nab leader Rocknroll Rod on the post.
But Green will need Colwell’s skills to help him get the best out of Governor’s Bay too because while his win might have looked clinical, driver Zachary Butcher came back to scale with aching arms after the horse locked on one rein virtually throughout.
“He’s not the soundest horse in the world,’’ says Green.
“It doesn’t matter which way round he goes, he hangs to the right.
“They tried to find the cause of it down south and couldn’t but I’m sure Lindsay will be all over it next time she comes up.
“We need to get him better next time but, if we can sort his problems, he could be a nice horse with a handy future.’’
Governor’s Bay again had a good blow after Friday night’s race, his first for Green, indicating he’s not yet at full fitness.
But he still clocked a solid 2:42.8 for the 2200 metres, closing in 57.5 and 28.7 to score by a head.
It was the first win by the giant five-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover for more than a year and his first in five starts for Butterworth.
More news in Harness
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Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
