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.
More news in Harness
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Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
