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.
More news in Harness
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Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Nate having a last spin round on his wee mate Eric - and he’s in with a very good chance
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
