Ants: Make Way ‘won with a leg in the air’ - and there’s plenty more in store
By Barry Lichter • 21 March 2019
Make Way won with a leg in the air at Penrith last night and can’t help but win another couple of races very quickly, tips top horseman Anthony Butt.
“I could have gone away by another five lengths on him,’’ said Butt after the little colt scored by 10.6 metres, sprinting away early in the home stretch to clock a 1:56.3 mile rate for the 1720 metres.
“That’s a really good time for this track and he was jogging all the way after we got to the front.’’
Butt revealed Make Way was travelling so well turning for home he didn’t even have to activate the pull down blinds.
“Once that one (Slingshot) dropped off down the back I had them well covered and he was never out of second gear. I thought I’d save the blinds for another day.’’
Make Way, having his fourth start in Australia, showed high gate speed to cross from three on the gate, and Butt had to keep his foot down to repel an early challenge from the second favourite, the ex All Stars’ pacer Slingshot, who was all the bully on track.
They’re flying into the first bend at Penrith and Make Way is about to cross Kelli Frost but Lord Denzel, middle, and Slingshot, outer, are burning hard to try to keep him out.“We were going like hell into that first bend which is a good effort on a little track like Penrith.
“Gate speed is so important on these little tracks and now that he has shown us he can get round them well, it just gives us so many more options. It’s another really good string to his bow.
“He’s a perfect little racehorse with great manners and he beat a couple of quite nice horses tonight.
“That’s how I hoped he’d go - his work at home had been good - and he should get another couple of quick wins.
“There’s not much for him in the next couple of weeks as he’s not eligible for the Bathurst Gold Crown so we’ll just potter round with him and find another suitable race.’’
Incredibly, Butt says Make Way stays a c0 pacer after his win last night, the fourth of his career.
“And he can win another race and he’ll still be a c0.’’
Butt believes that Make May can quickly make up for the little hiccup in his preparation when he raced flat in a New South Wales Derby heat and was found to be coughing afterwards.
Anthony Butt and partner Sonya Smith … doing a great job preparing Make Way for Lincoln Farms.
“He felt great tonight and is obviously back to his best.
“It’s good to get him on the board and he’s in a great space at the moment.
“He’s king of the kids in the barn. He thinks he’s the boss.’’
Make Way’s winning purse of A$3900 last night took his Australian earnings to A$7450 for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and the big partrnership which races him which comprises Christine Stuart, Christine Rupp, Lynda Irwin-Parson, Liz Bilton, Sue Donovan, Sue Wilson, Jackie Taylor, Mary Ingles, Sharon Rack, Shirley Arnett, Amy Myocevich, Bob Best, Duncan, John and Dave Chisholm, Warwick Orr and Ian Middleton.
Butt also had a good report on Lincoln Farms’ stablemate Vasari who ran a brave third earlier in the night for Brittany Graham.
Graham had to really gas the horse out of the gate to hold the lead and, after looking certain to be crossed, somehow managed to repel a bevy of challengers.
“She’d just got him relaxed after that when they came round in the second quarter and he got trucking again which took its toll late.’’
Butt says Vasari continues to earn his keep and will win again when things pan out for him.
Make Way and Anthony Butt are cruising, nearly 11 metres clear at the finish at Penrith last night.
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.”
