C’mon Tommy, you can do it! Sonya’s got good vibes for Menangle on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 14 February 2020
Another top five finish at Menangle on Saturday night and Make Way can qualify for the $200,000 Chariots Of Fire, says ace driver Anthony Butt.
Lincoln Farms’ little warrior with the stable name of Tommy lines up in the A$50,000 Paleface Adios Stakes (mobile 1609m), the final chance to force his place in next week’s big four-year-old finale.
And trainer Sonya Smith says she’s rapt with how Make Way came through his first tilt at the big guns last week when he powered home for fifth in the Hondo Grattan behind superstar Self Assured, clocking a spirited 1:51.01.
“Sonya gets the vibes and if she’s happy, I’m happy,” said Butt. “Even though he ran fast time he didn’t have a hard run last week and he’s bounced through it really well.
“I expect he’ll go every bit as well again.”
Butt fired Make Way out of the gate last week from six, the same draw he gets on Saturday night, but settled one place further back than he wanted, one out and two back.
“That one place makes a big difference. If I’d been one-one or in the trail he could have run a place. They can all come home in 26 so it’s hard to make up even a length.”
How they finished last week, Make Way running a brave fifth in 1:51.01.Butt’s assessment is spot on. The official times show the first eight home last week all broke 27 seconds. And Make Way’s final sectionals of 54.9 and 26.6 compared very favourably to those of the winner, Self Assured clocking 54.75 and 26.45.
Butt believes Make Way is actually best suited the faster they go - and the opening quarter last week was a brutal 25.8.
But he says it’s the second quarter which is the key, the extent to which they back off determining the eventual time of the race and whether back runners can get into it. Last week the speed slowed to 29.5 before they ripped home in 28.5 and 26.5.
“He was left a little flat-footed round the last bend but his last 200 metres was really good. The faster they go the better he’ll be.”
Butt says while Make Way is drawn awkwardly in six again there’s a bit more speed inside him in one, two and three, so he’ll go forward and try to slot in somewhere.
With the fastest fifth in the Hondo Grattan and Paleface Adios earning the 10th and final berth for the Chariots, Make Way can seal a place by running fifth again.
And if he can get to the starting line then Butt believes, with a good draw, he’d be a chance of getting some of the money.
“The draw makes such a big difference in these races because he’s racing at such a tough level.”
There’s no Self Assured to beat this time but the favourite, the Emma Stewart-trained Hurricane Harley, was best of Lochinvar Art and Self Assured’s rivals last start in the whirlwind 1:48.6 Four-Year-Old Bonanza at Melton.
Make Way races at 10.50pm NZ time at Menangle on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Forget the form line, Nemo is in Saturday’s race at Albion Park ‘right up to his ears’
Fine Cambridge double but Ray’s packing Lincoln Cove off to Matamata for scintigraphy
34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
