Make Way (Andre Poutama) leads Parker early in his heat at Pukekohe today with Trojan Banner heading the rest of the pack.
Make Way shows early lick at Pukekohe workouts
By Barry Lichter • 20 October 2018
Make Way showed another string to his bow for Friday night’s Sires’ Stakes heat when he scored a convincing win at the Pukekohe workouts today.
Trainer Ray Green was delighted to see Make Way sprint off the arm in his heat, leading for the first part of the 2050 metres before handing up to stablemate Trojan Banner.
And it was that early part of the workout, more than his powerful finish to reel in Trojan Banner by a head, which earned the big tick from Green.
“He hasn’t shown any gate speed before so it’s nice to know he has some.’’
Both Make Way and Trojan Banner tackle the last Sires’ Stakes heat in the north at Auckland on Friday night and showed they were perfectly primed.
Timed over the trip in 2:36.5, the pair clocked a mile rate of 2:02.9 and closed in 58.8 and 28, with half a length to Ideal Star and a head to Best Western.
Recco Lover trails the Barry Purdon pair On The Cards and Mach Shard at Pukekohe today.Recco Lover strong
Recco Lover, placed in each of his four starts this campaign, showed he was hard fit for Friday night when third behind the much higher rated Barry Purdon-trained pair On The Cards and Mach Shard.
Recco Lover led out then trailed before unwinding strongly to finish on the back of On The Cards and Mach Shard, with slick sectionals of 57.1 and 26.5.
They cut out the 2500 metre stand in 3:15.2, a mile rate of 2:05.7.
Mathew James weak
Mathew James dropped to the rear of his 2050 metre heat from widest on the gate and never improved, outpaced when the sprint went on and beat only one home.
Two-year-old pair smart
Sweet Lou colts Perfect Stride and Double Or Nothing, the best two-year-olds in Lincoln Farms’ barn, handled their first test behind the mobile in great style.
Double Or Nothing (David Butcher) led Perfect Stride (Zachary Butcher) and Man Of Action (Andre Poutama) in the running, all three behaving well amid the extra buzz of workout day.
When Man Of Action broke on the final bend after leaning on his pole the leading pair cleared out, clocking 59.2 and a sharp 27.5, Perfect Stride credited with a half head margin at the post.
“That’s the fastest they’ve gone,’’ said Green of the 2:07.9 mile.
All three colts are bred to be good, Perfect Stride a half brother to leading New Zealand Cup fancy Chicago Bull, Double Or Nothing a half brother to Tim Butt’s Let It Ride, winner of his last six starts including the Group I Blacks A Fake, and Man Of Action a half brother to cup contender Forgotten Highway.
Double Or Nothing leads Perfect Stride and Man Of Action in the two-year-old learners’ heat today.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
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.”
