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.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
