No flies on Make Way but Canberra’s off and he’ll head straight to Menangle on Tuesday

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.’’