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.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
