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.
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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.
