Christine Rupp, patting Make Way, along with her fellow owners are hoping he gets to the post for the big race on Monday.
Green working overtime to get Make Way to the post for $200,000 Final
By Barry Lichter • 28 December 2018
Trainer Ray Green is in a race against time to get Make Way to the post for the $200,000 Sales Series Final at Auckland on New Year’s Eve.
Make Way ripped a shoe half off when working at Pukekohe on Wednesday and stood on one of the nails which punctured his foot.
“He was quite sore on it but it’s not so bad this afternoon,’’ says Green.
“We’re working on the foot with tubbing and poulticing and we’ll see how he jogs tomorrow morning and go from there.
“At the moment I’d say he’s a 50-50 chance of making the race but we’ll know a lot more come Sunday.’’
Green has reshod the colt so there’s no pressure on the punctured area which, so far has not become infected.
“It’s a shame. I don’t like missing $200,000 races and we’re trying hard to get there.’’
Make Way, while a $35 outsider, is drawn to follow out the pole runner, hot pot Ultimate Sniper, one of three commanding favourites for the All Stars’ Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
Green’s hope was that with a marker hugging suck along the colt could get some of the minor prize money.
Make Way showed what he was capable of last start over a mile when he overcame a wide draw and came from second last at the bell to run a brave head second to Bettorstartdreaming in 1:54.9, the same time recorded by Sicario in beating Star Galleria in the main race.
Driver Zachary Butcher’s ground saving decision to cut inwards on the home turn proved the key and, had he not been held up and forced to try to squeeze though an almost non-existent gap at the 150 metre mark, he might well have won the race.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
