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
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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.”
