Make Way shows early lick at Pukekohe workouts

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.