Make Way came through gelding in great shape and will race either next week or the week after. PHOTO: Michael McInally.
Tommy was too much of a boy so he’s just Tom now - and it could be the making of him
By Barry Lichter • 3 June 2020
A new look Make Way will line up at today’s Menangle trials, explaining his absence from the track for the last month.
Make Way will be “two stone lighter” trainer Sonya Smith having had to make the call to geld ‘Tommy’ after his last run on May 2.
While pleased with his effort to just miss third at Menangle, after starting from the outside of the arm, Smith and her partner top horseman Anthony Butt were not so enamoured with his behaviour.
It wasn’t so much that Make Way was getting too aggressive behind the gate, but the fact that his behaviour around the stable and in the paddock was becoming unacceptable.
“Ninety percent of the time he was perfect but he was becoming too much of a boy,” says Butt politely.
“He’d always been a bit loud with his squealing but he was getting a bit dangerous around other horses.
“Even when you put him in the paddock he’d be too interested in the horse next door and would kick the rail. He was going to hurt himself so we gelded him for his own safety.”
Butt says while gelding older horses can be a bit of a worry, the rising five-year-old came through his operation great.
“Sometimes it can knock them but he never missed a beat. He had a few days off and then we started jogging him again and he seems to be going as good as ever now. It could be the making of him.”
Make Way contests the second heat at Menangle today at 12.40pm NZ time where, as the second highest assessed pacer, he will start one from the outside over a mile.
“He’ll be ready to race next week but a week later there’s a 2300 metre race which would suit him more than a mile. So we might wait a week and trial again next week.”
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
