Forget Make Way galloped last week. He’s a bright prospect if he gets into the right race at Melton on Saturday night.
Ants’ riddle: If Make Way doesn’t get back in at Melton, he’s a big winning chance. Pardon?
By Barry Lichter • 29 October 2020
You don’t often hear a trainer say they have their fingers crossed their horse doesn’t make a field after being balloted out.
But that’s exactly what trainer Sonya Smith and driver Anthony Butt are hoping with Make Way at Melton on Saturday night.
Make Way is first emergency for the fifth race where, in a capacity field, he has drawn terribly in seven, on the outside of the gate.
But should he not regain the field he can start in the opening race, against just five other rivals who also didn’t make the cut.
And while that consolation race is worth just half the money, at $10,000, it is vastly easier, and Make Way would start from four on the gate from where he might be able to fly straight to the front and dictate.
“He’d be a real good show in the first race,” says Butt. “And that’s why I’m hoping he doesn’t get back into the other race as he has to start there if he does.
“He wouldn’t be out of it in the harder race either but from seven it would make it tough.”
Butt is delighted with how Make Way has trained this week and says the horse is going much better than his form line of 999 would suggest.
“The horse had no show last week when he went back and they walked and sprinted.”
Butt knows only too well about that because he was driving the leader, red hot favourite and eventual winner Wolf Stride, while Make Way was handled by junior claimer Brad Chisholm.
Make Way actually galloped turning for home but it wasn’t the horse’s fault, more that Chisholm was intent on holding his ground while the driver inside him was trying to push him out.
“The race was a non event for Make Way really but he’ll be right this week. Even if he doesn’t lead I should be able to stay handy to the pace.”
If Make Way doesn’t get back into race five at Melton he will start in the opener at 7.56pm NZ time on Saturday night.
Make Way is first emergency in race five, timed for 10.10pm NZ time.
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Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 6: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.34pm NZ time
This race will tell us how he measures up against the local horses. We decided to go for this lower graded race, despite having lower prize money, instead of going to the trials one more time. He won the second of two trials on April 21, beating race rival Hezrockinroyalty by four metres. Run over 2230 metres he clocked 57.7 for his last half and 1:59.7 for his last mile. From the pole he’ll start short and be hard to beat.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 7: Lincoln Lou
8.25pm
“He’s a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth). He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.25pm
“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear. He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there. You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.20pm
“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others who are higher rated. He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”
