Make Way drops well down in grade at Bankstown tonight. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.
Enthusiastic Make Way in the right form to overcome bad draw at Bankstown tonight
By Barry Lichter • 20 December 2019
Make Way looks well placed to regain his winning form line when he lines up in the fourth race at Bankstown tonight.
Trainers Sonya Smith and Anthony Butt made a late decision to start the little warrior when he started tearing round the paddock, so full of himself they feared he might hurt himself.
“We turned him out for a day or two after the Cranbourne Gold Cup and were going to give him a week off but he’s just so well and we thought it better to give him a race,” said Butt.
Make Way raced right up to his best in the Group II Cranbourne event, finishing a close up sixth, and drops well down in grade tonight.
“It won’t be easy drawn the outside of the second row over the sprint distance but he’s got a bit of class so he’ll be hard to hold out.”
Bookies have Make Way a red hot $1.40 favourite to score his fifth win from six starts this time in.
Safely through tonight, Butt says Make Way could contest the A$50,000 Shirley Turnbull Memorial, a Group II race over 2790 metres at Bathurst on Boxing Day.
“It will be a strong field of open free-for-allers but he’ll draw well. We’ll just see how he goes tonight.”
Make Way races at 10.02pm NZ time at Bankstown tonight.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
