Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Plans were in place for five-year-old mare Make Your Mark to have her final start in a race at Pinjarra on Monday of last week. But when she gave a wonderful performance to finish fourth behind Seagrass it was decided to delay her retirement.
Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey then made a late nomination for Make Your Mark to run at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was made an emergency for the 2130m Camel Time Pace, and gained a start when Disco Under Fire was scratched when he was found to be sore in the off hind leg.
With Emily Suvaljko already down to drive Seven No Trumps, Turvey engaged Gary Hall Jnr to drive Make Your Mark.
Make Your Mark began from barrier seven and she raced three wide for the first 400m before moving to the breeze, with the $2.70 favourite Major Overs setting a sold pace.
Make Your Mark finished determinedly to beat Major Overs by a nose, rating 1.58.2.
“Make Your Mark was actually going to retire (to the breeding barn), and this was going to be her final run at Pinjarra on Monday,” explained Turvey. “Sarah (Wall) brought a halter to Pinjarra, preparing to take her home.
“But Make Your Mark ran so well that we changed our plans. She is also an acceptor for a race at Gloucester Park on Tuesday, and that is likely to be her swan song.
“She likes doing a heap of work in her races, and you can drive her tough. So that was the plan tonight to race without cover.”
Make Your Mark will be driven by Emily Suvaljko when she begins from barrier No. 5 in the third event at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening when she will again do battle with Major Overs, who has drawn more favourably at barrier No. 3.
Make Your Mark is by Somebeachsomewhere and is the fifth foal out of Bettors Delight mare El Jay Lombo, who raced 14 times in Victoria for one win, six placings and $8000 in prizemoney. Make Your Mark’s half-brother Wesley had a highly successful career for the Wall family, earning $163,186 from 15 wins and 12 placings from 53 starts.