Anthony Butt this morning with Make Way, veiled against the flies.
No flies on Make Way but Canberra’s off and he’ll head straight to Menangle on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 7 February 2019
Make Way will not contest Sunday’s Canberra Derby but tackle a race at Menangle on Tuesday instead.
Anthony Butt and partner Sonya Smith, who are now training Lincoln Farms’ smart colt, say he has come through his Leeton run well but they have decided he doesn’t need another long float trip so soon.
“He seems great but he did lighten up a bit with his trip away,’’ says Butt, not surprising given the five-hour float haul to Leeton and the sapping heat.
Butt says a precautionary blood test came back fine but racing at home would be a little easier on the horse.
“The Canberra race has turned out a pretty tough one so I’m pleased we have missed it.
“I will put him in a c0 race at Menangle on Tuesday and it will give him a run on the track before the derby heats.”
Make Way opened his Australian account with a close and unlucky second at Leeton on January 29, forced to sit outside the red hot favourite Major Roll throughout and also slightly hampered by the winner in the run home.
He is being prepared for the A$20,400 New South Wales Derby heats at Menangle on February 23.
Vasari is about to hand up to Chase Auckland at Menangle last Saturday.Stablemate Vasari, another Lincoln Farms’ pacer who also ran second at Leeton, lined up again at Menangle last Saturday, finishing fourth, albeit distanced by star New Zealand colt Chase Auckland.
But his effort to finish 17.5 metres from the Kiwi had merit given the 2300 metres was run in 2:44.2, a mile rate of 1:54.9, with the closing half in 54.3.
“He was good in a pretty strong field,’’ says Butt. “He keeps earning every week and we have put him in again on Saturday night.
“He seems competitive in the m0s at the moment and he earned more for fourth ($1000) than he did for second ($975) at Leeton. We can always find something a bit easier if we have to.
“We have had him in the water walker this week just to freshen him up and he is bucking and kicking when we put him out in the paddock so he seems great in himself.’’
Strike The Gold … warrior on his way back.Butt is also happy with the way Strike The Gold is coming back from his three-month break.
“He’s been in the water walker every day and he loves it. He’s really bouncing around the place.’’
Strike The Gold, who has won nine races since moving to Australia, has four screws in a leg which started bothering him last year.
“But he’s in a good place right now. We have started jogging him as well and he seems nice and sound but we will go quietly with him for another few weeks.’’
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.”
