Make Way … a complete professional who has finished in the top three in 18 of his 24 starts in Australia. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.
Ants: Make Way will find it tough to beat the superstars but he can qualify for the Chariots
By Barry Lichter • 7 February 2020
Make Way will find it tough to beat flying machines Self Assured and Balraj at Menangle on Saturday night but top driver Anthony Butt believes he’s going well enough to get some of the money and qualify for the A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire.
Make Way will come in to gate six in the Group II A$50,000 Hondo Grattan (mobile 1609m) which is sure to be run at hectic speed with the All Stars’ Self Assured and former Kiwi Balraj in such hot form.
In their last starts Self Assured ran second to Lochinvar Art in the Four-Year-Old Bonanza at Melton rating 1:48.6 over 1720 metres and Balraj extended his unbeaten streak since leaving New Zealand to eight, winning at Menangle in 1:49.9.
“Luckily those good ones are outside us,” says Butt. “Supreme Dominator may look to lead but we’ll come out hard and fast and hopefully cross to a good spot on the fence. If we can’t, we’ll settle one off and one of those good ones should come across and give us cover.
“It’s such a good field we have to go forward. You don’t want to be in the back half of the field.”
Is there a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for Make Way in the Chariots Of Fire?Butt says Make Way, who is the second highest rated horse in the field behind Self Assured, is in perfect order and should run a bold race.
“He’s been racing at as high a level as most of the others and acquitting himself well.
“Those two favourites are great horses but I think he’s right in behind them. It won’t be easy for him on Saturday but if he could make the final we’d be rapt.”
Spots in the Chariots Of Fire on February 22 can be earned by finishing in the first four on Saturday night and in next week’s Paleface Adios Stakes.
Bonanza winner Lochinvar Art is guaranteed a berth and the final place goes to the fastest fifth qualifier.
Butt says Make Way’s win at Penrith last week has cleaned him right up for the Menangle four-year-old series.
“I couldn’t be happier with him. He trained great yesterday and today had a jog and canter and felt terrific.”
Since Make Way joined the stable of trainer Sonya Smith at Menangle 12 months ago he has raced 24 times for 11 wins, four seconds and three thirds for prize money of A$78,923.
He is raced by Lincoln Farms, Ian Middleton, Amy Myocevich, the 10-women Excell Syndicate, Bob Best, Duncan, John and Dave Chisholm and Warwick Orr.
Make Way races at 11.27pm NZ time at Menangle on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
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.”
