Anthony Butt with Make Way, who will be scratched from Melton on Saturday night.
Poor Make Way: now he’s got a sore throat - but Ants says he’ll bounce back quickly
By Barry Lichter • 1 October 2020
Make Way will not start at Melton on Saturday night after going off colour in Melbourne.
Trainer Sonya Smith and partner Anthony Butt were happy with the way the horse travelled from Sydney but after a couple of days of being off his feed they called a vet this morning to check him out.
“He’s got an inflamed throat and some gunk down there,” Butt said. “It’s not like him not to eat and it’s obviously hurting him to swallow.
“He could go round on Saturday night but you’d risk flattening him. It’s a shame as his work before we left home was really good.”
Smith and Butt have made Melton their base for the next few weeks, staying with a dozen horses at Sandy Kilgour’s property, originally set up by former top Kiwi horseman Bob Cameron and leading owner Kypros Kotzikas.
“He’s been here before so he settled in well but then we get this hiccup.”
Butt had been hoping Make May’s troubles were behind him after first a lingering foot abscess then a bad cold kept him sidelined for the last three months.
“He’ll come right pretty quickly but I’m not sure if there’s a race for him next week with the Victoria Cup and Vicbred two-year-old finals on. Hopefully we’ll find a nice race for him in the next fortnight.”
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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.”
