A group of Make Way’s owners celebrate one of his early wins at Alexandra Park.
Hooray! Tommy’s back and making good progress for new trainers in Victoria
By Barry Lichter • 19 June 2021
It’s been 17 months since Make Way’s enthusiastic New Zealand owners yelled their pride and joy Tommy home a winner.
But after his annus horribilus of 2020 things are finally looking up as the once Mr Consistency of pacing gets through the early work of a fresh preparation.
With former trainers Anthony Butt and Sonya Smith now preparing Emilio Rosati’s team full time, the reins have passed to Butt’s young protege Zac Phillips and his fiancee Tayla Nicholson - and Butt, working from the same property, says they’re doing a great job.
Zac Phillips and his fiancee Tayla Nicholson who are now training Make Way.“He’s been back in work here for six weeks and he’s coming up really well. He’s looking really good and hopefully after a nice break he’s over everything.”
‘Everything’ included a bad foot abscess, an inflamed throat from a virus, an ulcer on his epiglottis and, finally, a fractured sesamoid bone in his hind leg.
Make Way led in his last race at Melton in December, 2020 but as he weakened soon after turning for home he copped interference and hooked wheels with another horse inside him, which knocked him sideways.
He sustained a hairline fracture which, luckily, did not traverse the sesamoid bone and was not displaced.
Vets decided not to operate on the injury and prescribed two months box rest and another two months in the paddock.
“It’s healed really well,” says Butt. “He had a month on the water walker and has been back here for six weeks and has got through a fair bit of hobbled work.”
Two years ago Make Way was campaigning in Queensland where he won the Redcliffe Derby. PHOTO: Michael McInally.Butt is sure Phillips will give Make Way every chance to regain his best form which saw him rack up win after win in New South Wales, pace 1:51.7, and boost his career stats to 14 wins and 14 placings and A$150,000 in stakes.
“Zac worked for us for a while and he’s one of the best up-and-coming drivers around.”
In April, Phillips drove the former Lincoln Farms’ star Perfect Stride to win the Warragul Pacing Cup then run second to Butt on Boots Electric in the South Australian Pacing Cup.
Make Way’s owners, who have enjoyed a sabbatical from paying any fees for the horse since his injury, will welcome his return.
During his golden run of form, he was a regular little EFTPOS card for Amy Myocevich, the Excell Syndicate, Bob Best, Duncan, John and Dave Chisholm, Warwick Orr, John and Lynne Street and Ian Middleton.
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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.”
