Make Way is about to go past Dance For Glory, inner, at Menangle tonight. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.
Take a bow Ants, that drive on Make Way tonight was simply one out of the top drawer
By Barry Lichter • 27 October 2019
“I was just driving to instructions from the trainer.”
Top reinsman Anthony Butt modestly fended off plaudits for his copybook drive on Make Way tonight which saw him take out the A$20,400 Fred Borg Memorial at Menangle.
Despite shifting the kudos to his partner, trainer Sonya Smith, who is unbeaten in three starts with two horses this season, there was no denying Butt won the race for Make Way with his early move.
“I thought I’d take a shot from the outside of the gate because there were a few in the middle that I knew wouldn’t go forward,” said Butt.
“If you go back it makes it too hard because they’re so even here and they don’t stop. It’s a chance you have to take and sometimes it comes off.
“I came out hard and fast for the first 150 metres to see if I could slide in and, when that didn’t happen, I just mooched my way up quietly.
“It’s still tough doing that, as he had to do a bit of work for that first 600 metres, but I was lucky I got the one-one before the bell.”
Butt said Make Way, the consummate professional, dropped the bit as soon as he had the helmet of Dance For Glory to follow.
“And when I pulled him out at the top the straight he really dashed. We got past Dance For Glory easily enough but he kept fighting us right to the line.”
Make Way is holding well as Dance For Glory and Clarry come at him late.At the post Make Way had a neck margin on the 19-race winner but he was holding well and looked like he would still have been in front had the race been another 100 metres further.
Make Way was credited with a mile rate of 1:57.2 for the 2300 metres, with closing sectionals of 55.8 and 27.6.
“He pulled up great,” said Butt. “He’s so professional he doesn’t take anything out of himself.
“And it was a good run considering he’s not 100 percent fit yet. That run will do him good. We didn’t have him screwed right down so he’ll keep improving.
“He’s doing everything we want at the moment - he can’t do any more - but it will get harder for him now because he’s won good money in his last few starts.”
The Mach Three entire banked A$10,400 tonight, taking his new season earnings from only two starts to A$15,080.
Presentation time after the Fred Borg Memorial at Menangle today.“We’ll look after him though and won’t chuck him in the deep end until we have to.”
Butt said because it is only six days until the next Saturday meeting at Menangle, Smith will probably wait until the following week to run the horse again.
“We’ll just keep mooching through the season and work towards the feature races in the new year.”
Butt is hoping Make Way continues to step up - “he follows speed well so I don’t see why he won’t” - so they can target the big four-year-old features, culminating in the A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle on February 22.
Make Way now boasts the fine record of 11 wins and 11 placings from 38 starts and A$116,254 in stakes for his enthusiastic owners John and Lynne Street, Ian Middleton, Amy Myocevich, the 10-strong Excell Syndicate, Bob Best, Duncan, John and Dave Chisholm and Warwick Orr.
More news in Harness
Forget the form line, Nemo is in Saturday’s race at Albion Park ‘right up to his ears’
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
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.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
