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
Cheapies The Night Fox and Lincoln Maree keep the tally ticking over at Cambridge
Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Leo poised to roar again - he looks a ratings special at Cambridge on Thursday night
Pole goes on The Night Fox - now he just needs a little luck from a niggly draw on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.55pm
“Frank drove a nice race on her last time, doing a bit of work early before leading and trailing, but I think the result might have been different if she’d led all the way. She has no speed, she’s better in front and rolling, so this week we’ll tell Frank to go forward and to not hand up and hopefully she can go one better.”
Race 4: The Night Fox
6.56pm
“He got KOed last time at Auckland but Harry said he felt like he could have won with a decent draw so we’ll just put that race behind us. I wouldn’t say this field is any harder. We’ve got a bad draw again but it depends on how the race pans out. I think he can still win.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.58pm
“He’s doing a good job, and he ran home well last time at Cambridge, but Leo Lincoln is definitely the pick of ours.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.58pm
“He’ll strip a lot fitter and I think he’s a good winning chance. He’s been racing open class horses and this is a huge drop back for him.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Linda
5.06pm
“I’m not holding my breath. She beat a poor bunch at Cambridge and will have to step up here.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
5.45pm
“Given the right trip, she should finish off not too bad as she has a bit of speed but, after two runs back, she needs to improve.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s only little but she trialled super and got home in 2:00.6 mile rate. If she repeats that, she’ll be in the fray. It’s early days yet but she’s a nice, tractable filly who has drawn well in two and, based on that one trial, you’d have to give her a chance. Whether she improves off it, we’ll see.”
Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.34pm
“I don’t think any of the others stand over her. She’s a tough mare who has trained on well. I’d love to see her in front, she’s proven that’s where she goes best, but whether she’ll get there from four is debatable. But I’m sure she’ll go another good race.”
