Awkward draw shouldn’t stop ‘perfect wee racehorse’ from getting into the derby finish
By Barry Lichter • 20 June 2019
Make Way has an awkward draw in Saturday night’s A$21,150 Redcliffe Derby but that shouldn’t stop him from getting into the money, says top driver Anthony Butt.
“If he’d drawn where Dazzle Me is (three) he would have been really hard to beat,’’ says Butt. “He still will be but its harder when one of the favourites is up front.’’
With the scratching of Lincoln Farms’ other runner Trojan Banner through a minor injury, Make Way moves in to five, but he is still the widest on the front line.
And that, says Butt, virtually forces him to go back at the start or risk being parked very wide round the turning triangular track.
“I’ve got no worries at all that he’ll handle Redcliffe because he’s such a perfect wee racehorse and he got round little tracks like Leeton and Penrith.
“I’d say I’ll be mooching forward at some stage as you don’t want to get too far back at Redcliffe.
Make Way finishes an outstanding third in his lead-up race at Penrith after mounting a sweeping run wide from the back.
“I’m sure it will be a good, competitive race, as they’re all pretty even, but I thought Make Way’s lead-up race at Penrith last week was outstanding.’’
Beaten just a half head and neck in a driving four-way finish, Make Way was at a distinct disadvantage starting from four on the second row.
“I tired to push through early and got squeezed out of a gap and then got behind one who was pulling back and ended up a long way back.
“And once Leonidas got parked I couldn’t make a move as he wouldn’t have let me go.
“He did very well to finish where he did as it’s hard to come three wide from the back on that track.
“It was a perfect lead-up run, after his break, and he came through it well.’’
Butt says he’s found through his experience of travelling horses that their second run is usually better than their first, once they’ve completely settled in.
“But he’ll be pretty right on Saturday night. He travelled up here really well and hasn’t missed a beat since he’s been here - he ate and drank everything last night.’’
Butt and his trainer partner Sonya Smith floated their horses north from Sydney on Tuesday after the Menangle races, breaking the trip up overnight at a horse motel halfway to Brisbane.
Top driver Anthony Butt is in great form already in Brisbane.“I’m glad we did that as when we got here yesterday the total trip was 12 hours.’’
Make Way is being stabled at Logan Village, 45km out of Brisbane, where he is staying with a long-time friend Ricky Thurlow.
Thurlow drove two winners for Butt’s brother Tim at Albion Park on Tuesday, Running Free and Superbass, while Butt was on the road, but he’ll be back at the helm this weekend with some plum drives.
Butt was in great touch at Albion Park last Saturday night, reining home Majestic Courtney and Im Rocknroll Magic for his brother and Barrett for Mark Jones and Aaron Goadsby.
Barrett, who is a rival for Make Way in the Redcliffe Derby, clocked a slick 1:52.7 mile rate for the 1660 metres.
“But he got a great run (in the trail) and I’m sure Make Way would have done the same.’’
Make Way races at 8.43pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
