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
The dream’s alive but Nate tells why he’ll wait for ‘Harry’ before racing Eric again
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
