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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

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.

Our runners this week

Friday night at Auckland

What’s Up The Hill.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Manawatu

Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm

“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”

Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm

“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”

Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm

“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”

Dan Costello Race Photography