Tasman hopping driver Anthony Butt teams with Make Way at Penrith on Thursday night. PHOTO: Michael McInally.
Quick jaunt to NZ today before Ants and Make Way shoot for hat-trick at Penrith
By Barry Lichter • 6 November 2019
Addington today, Penrith tomorrow - top driver Anthony Butt’s diary makes tiring reading.
But the Sydney horseman shrugs off the schedule as harness racing hots up leading in to cup week.
Butt has made a fleeting trip to Christchurch to get the feel of Line Up and Tough Monarch at today’s cup trials, prior to driving them on Tuesday in the Sires’ Stakes Final and NZ Trotting Free-for-all.
But he’s on a plane back to Australia straight away tonight as he and partner Sonya Smith have Lincoln Farms’ emerging talent Make Way entered at Penrith tomorrow night.
Make Way drops into a 2125 metre mobile at Penrith in a field devoid of much form that Butt describes as ideal to just keep him ticking over before his big battles later in the season.
With two impressive wins so far this season, and a good front line draw, the colt is sure to touch a short price even though six of his eight rivals have a higher national rating.
“It certainly looks a good race for him,” says Butt. “We want to look after him for as long as we can before we throw him in the deep end. And as he goes up in the grades it won’t be easy finding races away from the big stuff.”
Make Way, pictured winning the Redcliffe Derby, should lead from four on Thursday night. PHOTO: Michael McInally.Thursday night’s A$6630 event looks a walk in the park for Make Way who put away a much stronger field last time at Menangle, rating 1:57.2 for the 2300 metres.
Butt produced a copybook drive that day to clinch the win from the outside of the arm and from four here should easily get the top.
From there it should be a procession as the colt has good form on the country circuit with two wins, a second and a third from four starts.
“We know he handles the track and it will be a good stepping stone for him.
“We were going to wait for a race at Bankstown on November 22 but it would have been four weeks between runs and he came through that last run so well.”
Butt knows the Bankstown Cup (2540m) will attract a good field with its better than usual A$14,950 stake, but the up to rating 90 race will suit him perfectly.
Smith and Butt have done a sterling job since taking over Make Way last season. From 17 starts he has won eight times and along with three seconds, two thirds and a fourth has banked A$54,991 in stakes.
Make Way races at 9.30pm NZ time at Penrith on Thursday night.
More news in Harness
Fine Cambridge double but Ray’s packing Lincoln Cove off to Matamata for scintigraphy
34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Argyle out of action, injured, and barrier draw will take Nemo out of play too on Saturday
Our runners this week
Saturday night at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
