Make Way sneaks into the Chariots Of Fire but Ants says he’ll need a perfect draw
By Barry Lichter • 16 February 2020
Game four-year-old Make Way will represent Lincoln Farms in next Saturday’s A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire (mobile 1609m) at Menangle after scraping into the field as the final qualifier.
Make Way failed to capitalise on a perfect one-one sit in the Paleface Adios Mile tonight, feeling the pressure before the home turn and only battling into ninth behind hot favourite Hurricane Harley who clocked 1:50.6.
But Make Way still made the cut for the big four-year-old feature courtesy of his fifth last week in the Hondo Grattan because he ran faster time than tonight’s fifth-placed horse Catch A Moment.
The star-studded line-up is headlined by Melton Four-Year-Old Bonanza principals Lochinvar Art and Self Assured.
Some of the Make Way team whooping it up after one of his Alexandra Park wins.Make Way’s driver Anthony Butt says the barrier draw for the race will be all important, believing his little warrior could sneak some of the money if he can snare a good possie on the gate.
Just contesting the race will be a thrill for Make Way’s many partners who include Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middleton, Amy Myocevich, Auckland veteran Bob Best, the north’s Chisholm brothers, Duncan, John and Dave and their friend Warwick Orr and the 10-member Excell syndicate, a group of women who all originated from the Hunua.
Chariots Of Fire
A$200,000 Mobile 1609 metres.
(Not in barrier draw order)
11314 Culture King
42842 Demon Delight
11313 Fourbigmen
14131 Hurricane Harley
51517 Lochinvar Art
34159 Make Way
51253 Max Delight
24212 Out To Play
42154 Rockin Marty
11221 Self Assured
Emergencies:
63015 Catch A Moment
26166 Supreme Dominator
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.”
