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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

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.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.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.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Tuesday at Addington

Race 4: The Big Lebowski
1.32pm

“His run at the cup trials on Wednesday has set him up nicely and I’m sure he’ll go well. He’s got the draw (four) and the driver (Blair Orange) and the horse is in a good place at the moment. He should be right in the fray.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday at Addington

Race 12: The Big Lebowski
7.48pm

“He comes in to six with scratchings but there’s plenty of speed inside him so he’s going to need a bit of luck. But I’m sure he’ll go a good race as he’s right on top of his game. He’s pulled up well from cup day.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Cambridge

Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.33pm

“I’d say he’s the one to beat. He certainly deserves to be favourite as the others have been around for a while. He’s a big, gangly horse who has time written all over him but he’s getting stronger all the time and he’s doing everything right now. The raw ability is there - he’s got a bit of speed - and he’s been running good fractions at the trials and getting home well.”


Race 11: Commander Lincoln
10.22pm

“Some of these look a lot better than he’s used to running against but they’re in there for a reason. He’s on the second row but he’s always running on and I’m sure he’ll go his usual, honest race.”

Dan Costello Race Photography