Awkward draw shouldn’t stop ‘perfect wee racehorse’ from getting into the derby finish
By Barry Lichter • 20 June 2019
Make Way has an awkward draw in Saturday night’s A$21,150 Redcliffe Derby but that shouldn’t stop him from getting into the money, says top driver Anthony Butt.
“If he’d drawn where Dazzle Me is (three) he would have been really hard to beat,’’ says Butt. “He still will be but its harder when one of the favourites is up front.’’
With the scratching of Lincoln Farms’ other runner Trojan Banner through a minor injury, Make Way moves in to five, but he is still the widest on the front line.
And that, says Butt, virtually forces him to go back at the start or risk being parked very wide round the turning triangular track.
“I’ve got no worries at all that he’ll handle Redcliffe because he’s such a perfect wee racehorse and he got round little tracks like Leeton and Penrith.
“I’d say I’ll be mooching forward at some stage as you don’t want to get too far back at Redcliffe.
Make Way finishes an outstanding third in his lead-up race at Penrith after mounting a sweeping run wide from the back.
“I’m sure it will be a good, competitive race, as they’re all pretty even, but I thought Make Way’s lead-up race at Penrith last week was outstanding.’’
Beaten just a half head and neck in a driving four-way finish, Make Way was at a distinct disadvantage starting from four on the second row.
“I tired to push through early and got squeezed out of a gap and then got behind one who was pulling back and ended up a long way back.
“And once Leonidas got parked I couldn’t make a move as he wouldn’t have let me go.
“He did very well to finish where he did as it’s hard to come three wide from the back on that track.
“It was a perfect lead-up run, after his break, and he came through it well.’’
Butt says he’s found through his experience of travelling horses that their second run is usually better than their first, once they’ve completely settled in.
“But he’ll be pretty right on Saturday night. He travelled up here really well and hasn’t missed a beat since he’s been here - he ate and drank everything last night.’’
Butt and his trainer partner Sonya Smith floated their horses north from Sydney on Tuesday after the Menangle races, breaking the trip up overnight at a horse motel halfway to Brisbane.
Top driver Anthony Butt is in great form already in Brisbane.“I’m glad we did that as when we got here yesterday the total trip was 12 hours.’’
Make Way is being stabled at Logan Village, 45km out of Brisbane, where he is staying with a long-time friend Ricky Thurlow.
Thurlow drove two winners for Butt’s brother Tim at Albion Park on Tuesday, Running Free and Superbass, while Butt was on the road, but he’ll be back at the helm this weekend with some plum drives.
Butt was in great touch at Albion Park last Saturday night, reining home Majestic Courtney and Im Rocknroll Magic for his brother and Barrett for Mark Jones and Aaron Goadsby.
Barrett, who is a rival for Make Way in the Redcliffe Derby, clocked a slick 1:52.7 mile rate for the 1660 metres.
“But he got a great run (in the trail) and I’m sure Make Way would have done the same.’’
Make Way races at 8.43pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Unlucky Leo worth a dollar in the cup and La Moose can go close again on Thursday night
Onyx Shard can keep the ball rolling for Ray and Nathan at Manawatu on Tuesday
Ray and Debbie both in the money at the Park with speedy ‘Frisky’ and precocious ‘Angela’
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.”
