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.
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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.”
