From Line Up to Make Way, Ants loves his front-running wins on Lincoln Farms’ stars
By Barry Lichter • 29 January 2020
Fresh from winning the Victoria Derby with Line Up, top horseman Anthony Butt and his partner Sonya Smith will venture to Penrith on Thursday night with another star Lincoln Farms’ graduate Make Way - and the result should be another all-the-way win.
Make Way has had an easy time since his last-start run at Menangle when he raced against vastly superior company, finishing fourth behind Ignatius and King Of Swing in a 2300 metre sizzler run in a 1:54.6 mile rate.
There were no signs of little Make Way flagging as he powered home from three back on the markers in a 53.9 last half and 27.1 quarter.
Trainer Sonya Smith and partner Anthony Butt have won four races and nearly A$36,000 with Make Way already this season from only eight starts.“We were rapt with the run, at a really tough level, and Thursday’s race is a big drop in class for him.”
A rating 90 horse in an up-to-rating 90 race, Butt says he will go forward on Make Way from his five draw and try to lead.
“But if he has to sit outside them, it wouldn’t worry him as he relaxes so well out there. He’s so adaptable and loves little tracks like Penrith.”
Make Way has already won three times at Penrith for Smith and Butt says it’s great how the Australian system allows horses like him to still race at the smaller meetings.
“It means we don’t have to go to Menangle and run very fast times every start.”
Butt was glad he opted not to risk taking Make Way to Melton for the Four-Year-Old Bonanza where winner Lochinvar Art beat Self Assured in a blazing mile of 1:48.6.
Instead Make Way will have a much easier confidence booster as he prepares for the first heat of the Chariots Of Fire on Saturday week.
“He’s not 100 percent but hopefully he doesn’t need to be. He will be very hard to beat. It should be like a trial for him.”
Line Up all the way in the Victoria Derby.Kudos to Green with Line Up
Butt deflected the kudos from his Victoria Derby win with Line Up to Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe trainer Ray Green.
“Ray did all the work on the horse. He sent him over in fantastic condition and made it so easy for us.
“We didn’t have to do much with him, just kept him ticking over, so it’s a big thank you from us to Ray.”
Butt says he made a couple of small changes to Line Up’s gear to ensure he didn’t gallop under restraint but they were never put to the test as Line Up paced along sweetly in front, just as in his derby heat win a week earlier.
“He loves it in front. He gets into a rhythm and relaxes and has a very high cruising speed.
“It’s hard to lead and win a derby but he did it easily.”
Line Up paced 3:17.5 for the 2760 metres, a mile rate of 1:55.2, a full second faster than in his heat.
Butt says he was thrilled to also produce the derby third placegetter for Line Up’s owner Emilio Rosati, Perfect Stride another who was educated and trained by Green at Lincoln Farms until late August.
Make Way races at 9.36pm NZ time at Penrith on Thursday night.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
