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
Wednesday at Cambridge
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
1.10pm
“You can’t fault what she’s done up here and she’s trained on really well since Manawatu. She seems to have a good motor and can carry her speed a long way. It’s a bit of a step-up on Wednesday, and she’s drawn out a bit, but she should be right in the fray.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lover
1.45pm
“It’s a huge drop in class for him on what he’s been racing. The Purdon horse Crippa Max looks the one to beat on his trial but I’m picking we’ll finish in the first three at worst. He’s very honest and does nothing wrong.”
Race 6: Lincoln Downs
2.55pm
“She got skittled early last time when one galloped in front of her, and that didn’t help. It would be nice to see her get a good trip, with no incidents, and see what she can do. She’s no superstar but she tries hard.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
4.31pm
“It’s his first race for more than four months and I’m picking he’ll need the run. It was a toss-up whether we went to the trials, but he’d probably have had no opposition, so it made sense to drop him in here. He’s training well and seems in good shape but whatever he does, he’ll improve on.”
