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.
More news in Harness
Emotional night at the Park as Sammy Lincoln steps up for John and his sister Maree
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
