Make Way back in the money after long absence - and Ants has taken back the reins
By Barry Lichter • 16 August 2021
Make Way’s back - doing what he does best, winning money on the racetrack.
The little tradesman had his first race for eight months at Mildura last Friday night and showed all his old courage to finish second in the feature $12,000 pace.
It was his first start for young trainer Tayla Nicholson and her partner Zac Phillips but the following day the horse returned to the care of top horseman Anthony Butt, who recently relinquished his role as private trainer for Emilio Rosati.
Make Way did everyone proud in his resumption, junior driver Michelle Phillips slotting him into the one-one before mounting a three wide challenge 800 metres from home.
“It was a very good effort, given it was his first run for a long time,” said Butt of Make Way who earned an A$1800 cheque.
“They walked early and only got trucking from the bell, sprinting home in 55.6 off the front, which is very quick round Mildura.”
Anthony Butt … back training Make Way.Make Way’s effort, three wide with no cover, to get within 1.9 metres of winner Foolish Pleasure, was even more impressive given the leader had things all his own way.
“He was a bit tired on Saturday so I’ll give him this week off and he can race again at Melton on Saturday week.”
Butt believes it won’t take long for Make Way to reach full fitness - though it will be harder now to find suitable races for him.
“He’s on an awkward mark now (rating 86) so it will be harder to place him in the country - but the Mildura race was perfect and had an A$12,000 stake.
“It was good to get that race into him before throwing him in the deep end because he’s now only one or two levels down from the free-for-all horses.”
Butt, however, believes Make Way showed enough before all his problems to suggest he can be competitive further up the grades.
“There’s no reason why he can’t have a good run now that he’s hopefully over everything.”
Incredibly, for a horse who was once seldom out of the money, Make Way has not saluted the judge since January, 2020.
First he took some time to get over being gelded, then he had a lingering foot abscess, a virus, then he fractured a sesamoid bone when copping interference in his last race.
“The break seems to have done him good,” says Butt.
“He’s a different horse this time in, he seems a lot happier.”
That will be music to the ears of his owners, Amy Myocevich, the Excell Syndicate, Bob Best, Duncan, John and Dave Chisholm, Warwick Orr, John and Lynne Street and Ian Middleton.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
