Make Way strides out beautifully for Anthony Butt as they head for home in today’s Menangle trial. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.
Make Way cruises home at Menangle and gets a stamp from Ants for his model behaviour
By Barry Lichter • 3 June 2020
“Same horsepower, better behaved.”
That’s how top horseman Anthony Butt described the newly gelded Make Way after his easy near all-the-way win in a 1609 metre trial at Menangle today.
Despite being a little keyed up behind the gate, Butt said Make Way began fast and, after reaching the lead on the first turn, relaxed beautifully in front.
“He was just a little fresh early but when they came at him in the straight he kicked really well and won comfortably.”
The judge gave Make Way a 2.1 metre advantage over True Confessions at the line with a neck to Speedy Dominic, with the mile cut out in 1:56.2.
Make Way leads the field turning for home at Menangle today. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.Make Way recorded closing sectionals of 56.1 and 26.8, impressing Butt with the way he responded.
The run will see Make Way back in the draw when he lines up at the races, probably the week after next.
“I’ll just see how he is in the next few days, and how he works on Saturday, but I’m leaning to waiting a week for the 2300 metre race.
“They have three free-for-alls a night and I think he’ll be in the second best one, if not the third one, so it won’t be too tough on him.
“That run will clean him up nicely. He was only out for a couple of days and didn’t lose much fitness.”
Butt says Make Way has definitely been better behaved around the barn since he was gelded, after becoming “too much of a boy.
“He was perfect today and he’s still got his character.”
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
