Schoolboy Ryan gets top marks on Make Way - Ants and Sonya score his drive a 10 out of 10

“This could be Ryan Sanderson’s first Menangle winner … good drive young fella!”

Race commentator Fred Hastings telegraphed the excitement of everyone around Make Way even before the talented pacer hit the wire tonight in a sizzling 1:51.7.

And it was only a few seconds later when top horseman Anthony Butt, who prepares Make Way for Lincoln Farms with partner Sonya Smith, saw how much the win meant to his young protege.

As Butt ranged alongside on fourth-placed Ideal Star, he could see the 16-year-old schoolboy beaming.

“I congratulated him and he was so excited,” said Butt. “It’s a pretty big deal for him, his first winner at Menangle and only the second win of his career.

“I’d say he had a hard job concentrating on his studies at school today and it’s back to school for him tomorrow.”

Butt was delighted with the way Sanderson, a son of local trainer Shane Sanderson, handled Make Way, avoiding being sucked into a speed duel with Elderberry Stride who matched him out of the gate.

“He knows what he’s doing and gave the horse the perfect run.”

Just when it looked like Make Way might be held up in a pocket behind the leader, Sanderson pushed the parked Zahven Banner out of his way 200 metres from home and presented the horse at exactly the right time.

Make Way easily rounded up the leader and cruised to the line to win by 5.8 metres, a nice pipe-opener for the horse who was having his first start since the Queensland autumn carnival in July.

“That’s the fastest he’s gone and he had a bit in hand at the finish,” said Butt. “He had a bit of a blow afterwards too so he’s got improvement there.

“He’s pretty much exactly where we thought he was and it’s good to be able to win when he’s not wound up. It was better doing that than going to the trials again.

“He’s such a lovely horse who will always be competitive in whatever race he goes in. We’ve just got to hope he keeps improving but being a Mach Three he should do that.”

Butt is adamant the Queensland campaign has been the making of the horse, even though he won only a minor lead-up race to the Queensland Derby.

“Even though he didn’t win the big race up there you win in the long run.

“Tim (brother) and I have repeatedly found that a trip away and a bit of tough racing makes them. You chuck them in the deep end and it stands them in good stead.”

Make Way is nearly six metres clear of Elderberry Stride and Zahven Banner at the finish today.Butt says tonight’s win confirms his belief Make Way has come back in terrific order.

The horse never looked to be under pressure as he reeled off a closing 800 metres in 55.9 and 400 in 28.3.

His overall time was the fastest of the day at Menangle, Tim Butt’s Mac Almighty pacing 1:52.2 in the other up-to-rating 70 mile.

The win credited Smith with her second winner at Menangle this season - Mister Wickham the only other horse she has started, scored win No. 20 on October 5.

Make Way is likely to start next either at Menangle next Tuesday or the following Sunday.