Leaders have a big advantage at Penrith which is an 800 metre track with a 130 metre home straight.
Ants will gun for the front on Make Way at Penrith - but says it’s not vital to get there
By Barry Lichter • 19 March 2019
Top horseman Anthony Butt believes Kiwi colt Make Way can win a couple of races pretty quickly - but just can’t say whether it will be as soon as Thursday night at Penrith.
And that’s because Make Way, while back to full health, will be having his first start for a month when he lines up in the sixth race at 10.33pm NZ time.
Make Way, placed in his first two starts in Australia, was coughing after failing in a heat of the New South Wales Derby at Menangle on February 23 and Butt says the bug knocked him for a couple of days.
“But he came right on antibiotics in four to five days and seems back to his best again.
“He seems really bright in himself and is bouncing around. He had an easy time for a while, and it’s possible he’ll need the run, but he’s not far away and from the front he’d be hard to beat.’’
Make Way has drawn three in the mobile 1720 metre race and Butt is hoping he will have the speed to cross the two inside him.
Anthony Butt with Make Way, whom he trains for Lincoln Farms with partner Sonya Smith.But consistent pole runner Kelli Frost does have good gate speed and has led or trailed in each of her last five starts, and led here on February 28 at her last start.
“It’s not the end of the world if we can’t lead. They seem to be able to win from off the pace at Penrith if they can run good sectionals.’’
But being a tight anticlockwise 800 metres track, Penrith does favour leaders with its turning nature and short 130 metre straight.
“This is a good race for him to start off again and back from derby level into this grade he will find it a lot easier. And they won’t go 1:51 like they can at Menangle.
“Hopefully he can win a couple of races and get his confidence up. He’s a pretty classy horse and it should be onwards and upwards from here.
“There are plenty of nice races coming up for him. But we’ll probably look to line him up on Tuesday week at Menangle.
The likely favourite in Make Way’s race on Thursday is the former All Stars’ runner Slingshot having his first start in Australia for Darren Hancock. He won a trial at Menangle on February 12 and was a 6 metre third in a 1:52.2 mile trial there on March 5.
Stablemate Vasari, who runs in the fourth race an hour earlier, is one Butt fully expects will lead from his ace draw.
“He’s been going good races from bad draws and if he can lead he’ll be awfully hard to beat.’’
Claiming junior Brittany Graham will pilot Vasari.
Vasari will get his chance from the ace draw at 9.33pm NZ time.
Make Way races at 10.33pm NZ time. He has drawn nicely in three but may not be able to cross the pole runner.
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What’s Up with the trotter? - Ray ‘guilty’ of being very optimistic for debut on Friday night
Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
Kevin Kline, What’s Up The Hill, Sugar Ray Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Debbie Lincoln, Colonel Lincoln, Frisco Bay.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
6.07pm
“He didn’t go very well in his workout right-handed last Thursday but he was good on Saturday when we trained him left-handed. It’s his first race for three months so he could possibly need it but we’re talking Manawatu opposition.”
Race 7: Onyx Shard
7.01pm
“She’s absolutely a winning chance. She showed that last time when she had to do a fair bit to hold the lead. Fergie is driving her this time and we’re pretty confident she’ll go well. She’s such a well-gaited mare.”
Race 8: Lincoln La Moose
7.25pm
“He dominated them last time from the outside of the gate and, even though he can be in and out, he’ll be hard to beat again. That easier opposition makes a difference when there’s nothing good enough to eye-ball you. “
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
6.50pm
“He was very unlucky on night one. The gap sort of opened up then closed again and I had to take hold. He was still charging to the line and if the gap had come he would have been right there with the winner. If he can step and lead, then slot into the trail, he should be a winning chance.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
7.17pm
“Ferg said she wasn’t on the bit the whole way on Tuesday, was too relaxed. We’ll take the block blinds off this time and put half blinds on and see if that helps. She had to do a bit of work in the run on Tuesday but it doesn’t seem to have knocked her around. The outside draw makes it harder.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
7.39pm
“He looks our best chance of the night. He’s definitely a different horse down here and he obviously likes it in front. Ferg didn’t pull the plugs the other night and that tells you something. He’s doing everything right, I can’t fault him.”
