Impossible task ahead of Make Way on Saturday night but just enjoy the experience
By Barry Lichter • 20 February 2020
He might be the $71 rank outsider but Make Way’s New Zealand owners will still enjoy watching him run in Australasia’s greatest four-year-old race on Saturday night.
Some epic battles have been fought in the A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire and New Zealand has a proud record in the race with nine winners from the 23 runnings, four in the last seven years.
And top horseman Anthony Butt is tipping that the draws in Saturday night’s race have set it up to be another cracker mile.
“They could run anything - 1:47 or 1:48. Self Assured has got the job ahead of him now from the outside of the gate and they won’t want to let Lochinvar Art into the race so will probably keep running in the middle stages.”
Favourites have a poor record in the Chariots but so too have rank outsiders and Butt says Make Way will find it very hard to get into play from seven.
“I’ll have to drive him cold, keep out of the early battles, and you never know …
“But whatever happens it’s a big thrill for Sonya and the owners of Make Way to even make the field.”
Butt admits he and trainer partner Sonya Smith were a bit disappointed in Make Way last week when he beat only one home in the Paleface Adios.
“With the run he got - one-out one-back - I thought he should have hung in a bit better and we were scratching our heads a bit after the race.”
Butt first wondered if Make Way had simply not backed up from his strong run for fifth the previous week in the Hondo Grattan or whether the wet track and grit affected the horse - downpours put the programme back. Or maybe he spent his chips on the brutal 26.4 third quarter.
Make Way started to drop off before the turn and while he still paced his last 800 metres in 53.9 and mile in 1:51.76, he lost ground on the leaders, finishing 17 metres from winner Hurricane Harley.
Tests Butt took from the horse later showed his blood wasn’t quite right but he says Make Way has bounced back and seems 100% this week.
The Chisholm clan and their golfing buddies at Mangawhai will be glued to their TV sets on Saturday night to watch their little hero Make Way.
Make Way races at 10.50pm NZ time at Menangle on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Leo poised to roar again - he looks a ratings special at Cambridge on Thursday night
Pole goes on The Night Fox - now he just needs a little luck from a niggly draw on Friday night
$10,000 weanling Johnny Lincoln surprises again with fifth win over white hot blue blood
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.55pm
“Frank drove a nice race on her last time, doing a bit of work early before leading and trailing, but I think the result might have been different if she’d led all the way. She has no speed, she’s better in front and rolling, so this week we’ll tell Frank to go forward and to not hand up and hopefully she can go one better.”
Race 4: The Night Fox
6.56pm
“He got KOed last time at Auckland but Harry said he felt like he could have won with a decent draw so we’ll just put that race behind us. I wouldn’t say this field is any harder. We’ve got a bad draw again but it depends on how the race pans out. I think he can still win.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.58pm
“He’s doing a good job, and he ran home well last time at Cambridge, but Leo Lincoln is definitely the pick of ours.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.58pm
“He’ll strip a lot fitter and I think he’s a good winning chance. He’s been racing open class horses and this is a huge drop back for him.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Linda
5.06pm
“I’m not holding my breath. She beat a poor bunch at Cambridge and will have to step up here.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
5.45pm
“Given the right trip, she should finish off not too bad as she has a bit of speed but, after two runs back, she needs to improve.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s only little but she trialled super and got home in 2:00.6 mile rate. If she repeats that, she’ll be in the fray. It’s early days yet but she’s a nice, tractable filly who has drawn well in two and, based on that one trial, you’d have to give her a chance. Whether she improves off it, we’ll see.”
Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.34pm
“I don’t think any of the others stand over her. She’s a tough mare who has trained on well. I’d love to see her in front, she’s proven that’s where she goes best, but whether she’ll get there from four is debatable. But I’m sure she’ll go another good race.”
