Ants looking for early fireworks at Menangle for Make Way - and he could just get them
Only the draw beat Make Way at his last start and top horseman Anthony Butt fears it could be the same story at Menangle on Tuesday.
Courtesy of his consistent form, Lincoln Farms’ colt draws nine of 10 in the mile at 5.33pm NZ time.
And Butt says he needs some early fireworks to give him the chance to score in what is a good and very even line-up.
“That draw makes it tricky again,’’ says Butt. “I’ll be hoping for a bit of action early so I can slot in somewhere.’’
Make Way drew two on the second line last start and was forced to cover plenty of extra ground three wide to get into the party.
Towed forward from the 800, he ended up solo three wide at the 600 and outside the leader Typhoon Stride turning for home.
Make Way kept coming in the straight, getting almost alongside pacemaker Typhoon Stride before being outstayed late by a neck.
“He went great,’’ says Butt. “Only the draw beat him. He had to make his run a fair way out.
“It’s an even field on Tuesday and the others have drawn better than him again so we’ll need some luck.’’
What could play into Butt’s hands is the presence of former Kiwi Up All Nite who will be having his first start for trainers Shane and Lauren Tritton.
From the ace draw, he is sure to be gunned out after showing real transformation a recent mile trial at Menangle when he won by 18 metres and paced 1:53.2, six tenths of a second faster than Typhoon Stride’s winning race time over Make Way.
“Typhoon Stride got out pretty fast in that race too so they could do a bit early,’’ says Butt.
Alongside Up All Nite in two is another former Kiwi in Wahs Fire Bug, who debuted in 1:55.3 at Winton last month.
Throw in Leonidas, who has won eight of his 16 starts, from the outside of the gate and there are the makings of a good contest.
Butt says he’ll consider taking Make Way to Brisbane in July for the Queensland Derby should his form warrant the trip.
“There aren’t many big races he’s eligible for so if he’s going well closer to the time that’s definitely in the back of my mind.’’
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Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Racer 7: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.51pm NZ time
The horse has improved with his latest run (for second) and the field looks a little weaker this time. Ammicchi and Whata Optimist can fly the gate, so the lead might not be there, but with any sort of trip he should be very competitive again.