Make Way and Anthony Butt make play. From an inside second row draw things won’t be quite so straight forward at Penrith. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.
Ants’ tip: Make Way stands out but on tight Penrith track he’ll still need a little luck
By Barry Lichter • 8 May 2019
Make Way is clearly the best horse in the field in the last race at Penrith on Thursday night - but he’ll still need a little luck.
Lincoln Farms’ consistent three-year-old starts from the inside of the second row, a tricky place on the turning 804 metre circuit which favours on-pace runners with its short 130 metre home straight.
But top driver Anthony Butt, who prepares the colt with his partner Sonya Smith, is pretty cruisy about how he will drive Make Way.
“On these smaller tracks you like to be in front and it’s tricky when you’re drawn out the back. But it doesn’t worry me much because he’s very adaptable. If they go hard he’s got a great sprint but if they ease up, you’d want to get round.
“The eight-horse field makes it a bit easier and the guys who drive there are all good. They know the form and he’ll get a bit of respect.’’
Make Way earned plenty of respect after this last start win at Goulburn when he worked his way to the lead and reeled off a 1:56.6 track record mile rate for three-year-olds over 2240 metres.
He comes back to 1720 metres on Thursday night and has already shown he is a dab hand at short course events, clocking a 1:52.8 mile at Menangle when fourth two starts back.
Incredibly, as a five-race winner, he stays in the c0 grade on Thursday and meets a mediocre lot which includes one maiden and four horses who have won only one race.
Make Way looking magnificent this week at the Menangle stable of Sonya Smith and Anthony Butt.“If he wins this, it will be his last run in maiden grade.’’
Butt says Make Way’s work has been first class since Goulburn.
“He looks magnificent at the moment. His coat is shiny and dappled and he’s really thriving.
“He’s a wee ripper. He’s a bit of a colt around the barn but he’s manageable. We love him - he’s the star of the stable.’’
Make Way is still pencilled in for a trip to Brisbane in July for the Queensland Derby but no decision will be made until closer to the time, says Butt.
“It’s normally not as tough up there but it depends on who’s going.
“We’ll just keep him ticking over and see how he’s going. But you’re only three once and there are other races for him up there as well.’’
Make Way races at 11.03pm NZ time on Thursday night.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
