Make Way, pictured winning the Redcliffe Derby, is perfectly primed for Saturday’s South East Derby. PHOTO: Michael McInally.
Ants and Sonya have Make Way 110% ready - bring on the derbies
By Barry Lichter • 12 July 2019
Top horseman Anthony Butt knows it will be hard for Make Way to beat the best in Queensland in the next couple of weeks but he says the little colt is 110% for the job ahead.
Lincoln Farms’ warrior, who has won eight races this season, six for Butt and his partner Sonya Smith, tackles Saturday night’s A$31,000 South East Derby and next week’s A$100,000 Queensland Derby with an impeccable form line.
“We haven’t had one hiccup in the run up to this carnival and he’s just got a little bit better each time.
“We’ve looked after him, poked round in races he could win to get his confidence up and haven’t put him in any dogfights.
“He’s come out of every race feeling good and when I worked him yesterday he felt terrific.
“The next two weeks will be a big test for him but he’s one of the top four chances on Saturday.
“I thought his Redcliffe run was great (he clocked a 1:57 mile rate in winning the 2040 metre Redcliffe Derby) and while his win last week was in lesser company he was pretty dominant. (He scored by nearly 20 metres in a 1:53 mile rate).”
Anthony Butt … master tactician.Butt was pleased when Make May drew four on the front line in the South East Derby, while race favourite Self Assured and Lincoln Farms’ other runner Trojan Banner landed the second line.
He also has the All Stars’ second string Jesse Duke drawn outside him in five.
But that doesn’t mean Butt, a master tactician, will be blasting forward and attempting to lead.
“We won’t be able to cross Lochinvar Art, he’s a superstar and is very quick out of the gate. I’ll just be sliding across for a position and I can see three back on the outer being the best case scenario.
“Self Assured will come round at some time and I just hope not too many others do as well.
“It mightn’t be a bad thing that Lochinvar Art is in the race or Mark’s pair could have dominated. But I can see they’ll be in for a fight as well now. From two, Lochinvar Art will be the leader and he’ll take some catching.”
If anyone needed any reminding of the ability of the Modern Art three-year-old, who has finished top three in every one of his 23 races, it came in the NSW Breeders’ Challenge Final at Menangle on June 30.
After burning off the arm and all but holding Max Delight to the first turn, in an opening quarter of 25.8, Lochinvar Art trailed on a hot speed.
But there were no gaps in the run home and he spent most of the home stretch going sideways, angling off heels, ending up five wide before finding clear air and sprinting home to fail by half a neck to catch Rockin Marty. A certainty beaten, he clocked a staggering 1:50.83 for the mile.
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
