The cutaway piece of the blue flip flop outlines the abscess which burst out of Line Up’s heel this week.
Line Up on back foot after abscess threatens to keep him out of Thursday’s Sires’ Stakes heat
By Barry Lichter • 29 September 2019
Crack colt Line Up is recovering from a foot abscess and in danger of missing Thursday’s first Sires’ Stakes heat at Cambridge.
And while Green is frustrated at the setback with the speedy three-year-old, he at least now knows why Line Up wasn’t at his best when narrowly beaten at Auckland nine days ago.
“He was fine when he worked on Wednesday but was lame when he got back to the stable and we found an abscess had blown out of his heel.
“It could have been brewing for a month and would certainly explain way he galloped out of the gate the other night and put in those funny steps.
“We were all scratching our heads a bit afterwards but this answers all the questions.”
Green has cut away a corner section of Line Up’s foot and fitted him with flip flops to take the weight off the area and has noted significant improvement in the horse in the last two days.
“Yesterday he could hardly put his foot on the ground but today there’s vast improvement and he’s feeling a lot better in himself.
“I was able to jog him and he wasn’t too bad, but still off.
How long it will take to resolve I don’t know but I’ll just play it by ear. I’d want to be able to work him on Tuesday if he’s to run at Cambridge.”
Green says if he’d been asked yesterday whether Line Up could be fit to start on Thursday he’d have said definitely not.
“But now I’d say he has a chance if he continues to improve at this rate.”
Green says it’s not the end of the world if Line Up misses this week as he will have another chance in the Sires’ Stakes heat at Auckland on October 25.
That would be Line Up’s last opportunity to qualify for the $170,000 November 12 Final at Addington, though, as only five heats are now run and the last of the three southern heats is programmed for the same night as Auckland.
“It would be a shame for him to miss out as he’s such a talented colt.”
Green won the Sires’ Stakes Final with Sir Lincoln 10 years ago when the race was worth more, at $184,000.
Green will have the favourite on Thursday regardless of whether Line Up makes it with rapidly improving colt Copy That in top form, judging by his brilliant last start success and effortless win at the Pukekohe workouts yesterday.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Cambridge
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
1.35pm
“This looks a good race for him. We haven’t done anything with him since Thursday but, with natural improvement after such a long spell, he has to be the one to beat.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
3.04pm
“She should be dangerous from two. It was a good effort to sit parked last week and you’d expect natural improvement from that fresh-up run. She’s a pretty good filly.”
Race 5: Commander Lincoln
3.05pm
“Onyx Shard looks a better chance from two but he has the advantage of being hard fit.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
3.29pm
“This is a big drop in class for him and he is definitely the one to beat, on paper. From the inside draw you’re obligated to leave, or risk being crossed, but he gets out okay.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
3.29pm
“It was a better run than it looked last time when she was held up in the home straight. She’s improving dramatically all the time and I expect her to give them a fright.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
3.58pm
“The winning time was only 2:47 last week but It wouldn’t have mattered what time they went, he was going to win. This is harder but there’s no reason he couldn’t do it again.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
4.57pm
“He stands over them on class and you can’t fault what he’s doing. He’s a big winning chance, despite the 35 metre handicap. He’s the only one on the mark so he should step well and be the one to beat.”
