Rival pushes Make Way to near track record but he still does it oh so easily
By Barry Lichter • 7 November 2019
Make Way scored another comfortable win at Penrith tonight - despite being forced to run a near track record by a rival who niggled at his lead for half the race.
Lincoln Farms’ rising talent was attacked hard from the 1200 metre mark by Squire, who went head and head with him through quarters of 28.5 and 28.1.
But Squire was under heavy pressure before the home turn and it was left to the trailing So Kool Master to try to challenge up the straight, the second favourite coming up 2.3 metres short.
Make Way clocked 2:33.7 for the 2125 metre mobile, a mile rate of 1:56.4.
In praising the win, commentator Fred Hastings pointed to a new track record set only recently - Valoroso Hanover posted 1:56.2 a couple of weeks ago - but the listed track record for that trip is 1:55.9, set by The Golden Cross in 2017.
Make Way sprints clear of So Kool Master to win easily.Driver Anthony Butt said while Make Way had no peace, he was always travelling well.
“You always like to go as slow as you can, so it wasn’t ideal, but it seemed to keep his mind on it.
“He had a nice horse on his back and held it pretty comfortably so the run was really good.”
Butt let Make Way run out of the gate from four but stayed out of an early duel between runners inside him.
“He came out really well but I waited ’til the two inside him sorted themselves out. I knew the front would be there for me so there was no panic.”
Butt allowed Make Way to take the lead after 400 metres and for the rest of the first lap he was able to rate the horse as he liked.
“When that other horse came alongside it kept him honest but we had it covered a long way out.”
Butt said he was happy to land another cruisy win for Make Way because he knows it won’t be long before the horse has to tackle much better opposition.
His partner, trainer Sonya Smith has circled the A$14,900 Bankstown Cup on November 22 as the next target.
“But the next time he races at Menangle he’ll probably have to go in the free-for-all. The system can penalise you sometimes when you win them in a row but it evens out in the end.”
Make Way has now won all three of his starts this term, tonight’s purse of A$3380 taking his tally this season to A$18,460. He has won nine of his 18 races for Smith boosting his career tally to verging on A$120,000.
More news in Harness
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Watch Sammy Lincoln charge home and you’ll want to be on at Cambridge on Thursday night
Lincoln Wave scorches in, still on target for richer races and Sammy’s making progress too
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Omaha Lincoln
4.49pm
“He’s never been to Cambridge, and it’s his first time off the place, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go well - he’s certainly got enough speed to do the business. It’s guesswork trying to assess him against the others but I think he’ll do everything right so he’s a chance.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
6.51pm
“She is a bit one-dimensional - she’ll take charge of proceedings when the gate leaves. She could get parked but if she got a cheque I’d be happy.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.22pm
“He was taking ground off the winner last week and I don’t think the step up to 2700 will make much difference, he’s race fit now. He’ll do what he can do, he’s no champion, but he’s got the draw, he steps well and he won’t be far away.”
Race 7: Lincoln Wave
7.52pm
“The draw is awkward over the sprint distance at Cambridge but he’s absolutely capable of being right in the fray if he happened to get a good trip - he’s an improver every time he goes to the races. Not many of the others have run 1:54.”
Race 7: Sammy Lincoln
7.52pm
“I thought he did well to finish third last week after being parked out. The draw makes it very hard but he’s got real speed and if he dropped into it late, it wouldn’t surprise me if he got home really well.”
Race 10: Spiritual Bliss
9.24pm
“They’ll know they’ve been to the races if she gets any kind of trip. She was parked the whole way last time in 1:52 and wasn’t far off them. I don’t really want to see her parked again but you’d think Tytate would duck for cover knowing we’d say in front. She’s tough and reliable - she hasn’t gone a bad race since we’ve had her - and you know she’ll put herself in the race.”
Race 10: Another Cullect
9.24pm
“The outside is not a good draw for her but, if they go hard, it will suit her.”
