Make Way back in the money after long absence - and Ants has taken back the reins
By Barry Lichter • 16 August 2021
Make Way’s back - doing what he does best, winning money on the racetrack.
The little tradesman had his first race for eight months at Mildura last Friday night and showed all his old courage to finish second in the feature $12,000 pace.
It was his first start for young trainer Tayla Nicholson and her partner Zac Phillips but the following day the horse returned to the care of top horseman Anthony Butt, who recently relinquished his role as private trainer for Emilio Rosati.
Make Way did everyone proud in his resumption, junior driver Michelle Phillips slotting him into the one-one before mounting a three wide challenge 800 metres from home.
“It was a very good effort, given it was his first run for a long time,” said Butt of Make Way who earned an A$1800 cheque.
“They walked early and only got trucking from the bell, sprinting home in 55.6 off the front, which is very quick round Mildura.”
Anthony Butt … back training Make Way.Make Way’s effort, three wide with no cover, to get within 1.9 metres of winner Foolish Pleasure, was even more impressive given the leader had things all his own way.
“He was a bit tired on Saturday so I’ll give him this week off and he can race again at Melton on Saturday week.”
Butt believes it won’t take long for Make Way to reach full fitness - though it will be harder now to find suitable races for him.
“He’s on an awkward mark now (rating 86) so it will be harder to place him in the country - but the Mildura race was perfect and had an A$12,000 stake.
“It was good to get that race into him before throwing him in the deep end because he’s now only one or two levels down from the free-for-all horses.”
Butt, however, believes Make Way showed enough before all his problems to suggest he can be competitive further up the grades.
“There’s no reason why he can’t have a good run now that he’s hopefully over everything.”
Incredibly, for a horse who was once seldom out of the money, Make Way has not saluted the judge since January, 2020.
First he took some time to get over being gelded, then he had a lingering foot abscess, a virus, then he fractured a sesamoid bone when copping interference in his last race.
“The break seems to have done him good,” says Butt.
“He’s a different horse this time in, he seems a lot happier.”
That will be music to the ears of his owners, Amy Myocevich, the Excell Syndicate, Bob Best, Duncan, John and Dave Chisholm, Warwick Orr, John and Lynne Street and Ian Middleton.
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Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Cambridge
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
5.55pm
“The race never panned out for him on debut, he got too far back from a second row draw, but we’ve got the gun draw and gun driver (Zachary Butcher) on this time. He can run off the gate a bit so I don’t see why he can’t lead. I’d like to think he’s a chance to get some money. He’s been trialling and working well.”
Ray’s tips
Thursday night at Auckland
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.41pm
“He missed four or five days work with an abscess in his foot when he came back from Manawatu so he could be a bit short.”
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.41pm
“She doesn’t handle the bends so well the Auckland way and is just going round to lose points. She’s been crucified by the handicapping system.”
Race 2: What’s Up The Hill
6.06pm
“He’s not the finished article yet but he’s slowly getting the hang of it. There are nicer horses in the race than the ones he raced against at Manawatu so I’Il be happy if he can just do everything right and run a slot.”
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.31pm
“She won from a wide draw last time at Manawatu but this is a slightly harder field. She keeps drawing badly and the outside gate might inconvenience her again.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm
“He got pushed out down the back last time because he couldn’t keep up. We had big aspirations for him but it looks like he isn’t as good as we thought. Nothing can beat Marketplace.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
7.54pm
“I’m sure she’s up to them when she’s right but she’s had her setbacks recently. First she tied up and then she kicked out at something and bruised a foot. She’s right now but that will render her not 100% fit.”
Race 9: Lincoln La Moose
9.36pm
“He went good races at Palmy but he pulled far too hard here last time. It was a better run than it looks on paper though as he couldn’t get a run at them in the straight. He’s probably on his mark now and will need a bit of luck.”
