Progressive X-rays of Copy That’s injury show excellent healing of the splint bone. PHOTO: Ballarat Veterinary Clinic.
The champ’s back home, with a clean bill of health, crowing to everyone who will listen
By Barry Lichter • 5 May 2022
Star pacer Copy That is home - and crowing like a rooster letting everyone know it too.
The New Zealand Cup winner arrived back on a flight from Melbourne this morning, with an A1 report from top vet Brian Anderson and the go-ahead to resume work.
After four and a half months of being couped up in a box, trainer Ray Green says the horse seems very happy to be back at Lincoln Farms in Pukekohe.
“He’s put on a lot of weight and looks really good. I jogged him this morning and he was keen to get on with it.”
It will be a week or two before Copy That will really be able to stretch his legs, though, Anderson recommending the horse be initially restricted to a small yard.
Copy That will be confined to a small yard for a week or two to prevent him from hooning around. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Owner Merv Butterworth agrees that allowing Copy That to “gallop around a big paddock like Phar Lap” might undo all the hard work at Laura Dixon’s Dowling View equine rehabilitation.
The horse was sent there after a paddock accident in late December when it was discovered he had a hairline fracture of a hind splint bone, ending his Victorian summer campaign after only one start.
“After he has had a bit of work and let everyone know ‘the boss is back’, he can be placed in a larger yard,” Butterworth said.
The latest X-rays of Copy That’s off hind leg give Butterworth great comfort that Copy That will be able to return to his brilliant best.
The fracture lines are only just visible and, crucially, the bony callus - caused by the progressive formation of new healing bone - has not enlarged on two months ago and is not painful.
When examined at the Ballarat Veterinary Practice on April 28, Copy That was not lame behind in a straight line trot or in a circle.
While slightly sore in both front feet at the trot that was likely due to being in a yard with coarse sand for the last month.
The best part of Anderson’s report for Butterworth was the sentence: ’The prognosis for a return to racing is very good.’
Copy That will defend his New Zealand Cup crown in November. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.Green said Copy That would jog for the next month before another X-ray and a return to full race work.
“I’m happy to have him back, he’s our flagship,” Green said.
“It’s onwards and upwards now and the New Zealand Cup will be our main mission.”
Copy That, who smashed his rivals in the New Zealand Cup last season, enjoyed a stellar four-year-old year, winning 15 of his 25 races and $777,098.
His career record stands at 24 wins and 11 placings from 45 starts and a bankroll of $964,297.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
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.”
