Make Way, pictured winning the Redcliffe Derby, will be leading out on Saturday night. PHOTO: Michael McInally.
Blue army’s big guns can expect plenty of fight from Ants and Make Way in Queensland Derby
By Barry Lichter • 19 July 2019
Top tactician Anthony Butt has laid down the gauntlet to the All Stars’ favourites in Saturday night’s A$100,000 Queensland Derby, declaring Make Way won’t be handing the race to them on a plate.
Butt has drawn the pole on Lincoln Farms’ little warrior and is confident he has the speed to head off Jesse Duke (two) and Self Assured (four) out of the gate.
“I’ll be able to hold the lead for as long as I want,” says Butt.
“I’ve always said he has great gate speed and the other night (from four) he left like he could get out really well.
“I know Luke (McCarthy) will want to cross on Jesse Duke and hand up to Self Assured and that wouldn’t be ideal for us. The last thing I want is for Mark Purdon’s horses to lead and control the race.”
Butt says there’s a chance some of the other drivers might wan’t to chance their arm too, like David Moran who is drawn six on fast beginner Lochinvar Art.
“I’ll just play it by ear but at least from that great draw I have options.”
Butt’s job will be to assess just how much pressure Make Way is taking but the colt’s big group of owners will be happy to hear he won’t be relenting without a fight.
And that’s because Butt says his partner Sonya Smith has Make Way absolutely flying at the moment.
“His sectionals the other night were fantastic, the little fella just couldn’t be going any better.”
Make Way, who raced in the one-out three-back possie in the South East Derby, unleashed his final 800 metres in 53.08, making up 4.8 metres on the leaders. Only third-placed Jesse Duke ran a faster last 800 in 53 flat.
“Any other year you’d be really confident but the crop is so strong this year. Some nice horses will get run over on Saturday night.
“It’s a Group One race so you take on the best and hope for the best.”
Trojan Banner is drawn to follow Make Way in the Queensland Derby. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Lincoln Farms’ second derby rep Trojan Banner will start sixth favourite at the very long odds of $81 but that reflects only the strength of the field rather than how the horse is going.
Don’t be fooled into thinking Trojan Banner went badly when his seven-race winning streak in Brisbane ended in last week’s South East Derby.
While he beat only one home, incredibly, the little black clocked a startling 53.45 for his last 800 metres.
That time was almost identical to the 53.41 sectional recorded by hotpot Lochinvar Art, who went down in the closest of photo finishes to Self Assured.
Even more remarkably, the two pacers ran exactly the same last 400 meres of 26.11 - and Trojan Banner did that coming from the back three wide round the bend, whereas Lochinvar Art was hugging the markers in front.
Self Assured, who is an unbackable $1.35 favourite with Sportsbet on Saturday night, ran a race record mile rate of 1:54 for the 2138 metres last week and trainer Al Barnes says over 2680 metres this time, they won’t be going nearly as fast.
“I didn’t think Trojan had that kind of speed in him and he’s only got to run like that again to get some of it. And he’s drawn to sit on the fence and do no work.”
From the inside of the second row Barnes is hoping Trojan Banner will stay hard on the back of Make Way.
Both Make Way and Trojan Banner paced lightning fast sectionals in last week’s South East Derby.
Make Way and Trojan Banner race at 10.25pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday 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.”
