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.
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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.”
