Make Way, obscured by training partner Lets Strike The Gold, stretches out in his work at Menangle.
Ants dons the armour on Make Way for what looks a two-horse war at Newcastle tonight
By Barry Lichter • 17 May 2019
On paper, it looks like a two-horse race: Make Way v Mongolian Archer.
And when the starter says go in the fifth race at Newcastle tonight, at 9.33pm NZ time, both horses will undoubtedly be gunning for the lead.
Top horseman Anthony Butt says he’ll know in the first 20 to 50 metres whether Luke McCarthy is determined to hold the lead on pole runner Mongolian Archer.
While drawn outside him in two, Butt says Make Way has serious gate speed, which will make for a thrilling opening encounter.
“I don’t want to end up sitting outside him so if he doesn’t let me go, hopefully I’ll end up in the trail.
“Either way it will be a good test for him.’’
Make Way … looking in great condition this week.The one edge that Make Way does have on his main opponent is race fitness.
When Mongolian Archer resumed at Menangle 10 days ago he was having his first race for three years. Despite that he all but led them all the way over 1609 metres, collared late, a head, by Cowboys N Indians in 1:54.9.
Mongolian Archer, who showed real early promise winning four of his previous 10 starts for Paul Court in Canterbury, will obviously be improved for the run, says Butt.
“This looks a bit of a step down in class for him too.
“But our fellow is at the peak of his powers. He’s really thriving and his work since he won at Penrith has been great.’’
Make Way also ran a full two seconds faster than Mongolian Archer in his last go round Menangle, clocking 1:52.84 in April.
Butt says the 940 metre Newcastle circuit isn’t the best smaller track in New South Wales, its bends not cambered as well as many others.
“But he got round Penrith well and Newcastle has quite a long straight (220 metres).’’
Make Way was to have travelled the 160km to Newcastle with stablemate Let’s Strike The Gold, who was set to resume after nearly nine months on the sidelines.
But his race was canned, leaving Butt and training partner Sonya Smith now looking at several options next week.
“He’s probably working as good as he ever has so the break could have been a blessing in disguise,’’ says Butt.
How the Aussie form experts see Make Way’s race tonight.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
