Ants looking for another big effort from Make Way at Menangle but Bonanza less likely
By Barry Lichter • 11 January 2020
Top horseman Anthony Butt will make a final decision on whether to take Make Way to Victoria for the Bonanza after he competes at Menangle tonight but the trip is looking less likely now.
Butt and trainer Sonya Smith were initially keen to tackle the first big four-year-old feature at Melton on January 25, so taken were they by his outstanding third against the topliners at Bathurst a couple of weeks ago.
But since then the All Stars’ new pinup Self Assured has gone to another level, dominating his rivals in the Auckland Cup and his trip to Australia has been confirmed, with his first two targets the Ballarat Cup on January 18 and the Bonanza a week later.
“There’s not much point going all that way to race Self Assured,” says Butt. ‘We won’t be beating him. I’ll wait to see how my fella goes tonight but I’m leaning to not going now.”
Anthony Butt with Make Way who should give another great sight from the inside draw tonight.Make Way’s luck held when the random barrier draw came out for Menangle tonight, landing his favourite pole position, from where Butt will be able to carve out his own luck again.
And while he meets a strong line-up of mostly higher rated runners, he is suited to the testing 2300 metres at Menangle after his recent top efforts over 2540m, 2555m and 2790m.
Whether Butt elects to stay in front or take a trail will depend on how much early pressure he gets, but either way he says he should be able to stay handy enough.
“There are some classy horses in there but hopefully we’ll be right there at the finish.”
Among his opposition tonight is former Lincoln Farms pacer King Of Swing, having his first start since moving from Perth, and the tough pacer Ignatius, who is a regular performer in strong Group races.
Butt says Make Way hasn’t missed a beat since running a close third to Alta Orlando and Our Uncle Sam in the Group II Shirley Turnbull Memorial at Bathurst, when he was caught in the shadows of the post.
“It didn’t knock him at all. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Make Way’s main target this season is to qualify for the A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire on February 22 through the A$50,000 Hondo Grattan on February 8 and A$50,000 Paleface Adios a week later.
Make Way races at 11.18pm NZ time at Menangle on Saturday night.
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Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
