Make Way rushes home down the outer to run second in today’s trial at Menangle.
Relief for Ants and Sonya: Make Way’s finally back and he’s off to race in Melbourne
By Barry Lichter • 23 September 2020
Three months of frustrations finally look to be over for the connections of talented pacer Make Way.
When the four-year-old stepped out at today’s Menangle trials, it was his first run since June but you wouldn’t have known it the way he dashed up the home straight to run second to speedy pacer One Hell Of A Ride.
Driver Anthony Butt (wearing the Rosati colours of yellow and light blue diamonds) crossed from nine on the gate to be fourth on the markers and said the horse travelled well throughout.
“And when I pulled out in the straight he zipped up well.”
The winner was clocked to run the mile in 1:54.4, closing his last half in 55.8 and quarter in 27.3.
“These trials are often like a week’s work because they go so fast but that was just perfect for him today.
“He seems to be over all his hiccups now and the plan is to take him to Melbourne with a team next week.
Anthony Butt with Make Way at Menangle.“There are no trials here next week so we’ll either give him a private trial or trial him when we get to Melbourne.
“There are some good races for him there in his grade, whereas here he’d be thrown into the free-for-alls.”
Butt said he and trainer Sonya Smith felt sorry for Lincoln Farms and its partners in Make Way over the setbacks the horse has endured in the last three months.
After weakening out in a 1:50.9 mile on June 13, it was discovered the horse had a foot abscess which lingered for weeks.
“It just wouldn’t burst and in the end we had to lance it at the back of the bulb. The same thing happened to (My) Field Marshal a couple of years ago.
“We even X-rayed it because we thought there must be a foreign object in there but there wasn’t.”
When the foot finally came right and Make Way was ready to go again, he caught a bad cold.
“A virus went through the whole of Menangle. Our team all got it and there’s not much you can do, you just have to wait it out.
“Luckily it happened in the middle of winter so he didn’t miss any big races but I was still pulling my hair out.”
Make Way is being aimed at the A$50,000 Four-year-old Breeders’ Crown (2240m) at Melton on November 21.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
