First Stakes Win for Makybe Diva Sibling

Tara Madgwick - Saturday May 24

She's got a long way to go to emulate the achievements of her three-quarter sister Makybe Diva, but the future is looking bright for four year-old mare La Amistad, who claimed her first Black Type victory with a resounding win in the Listed ATC WJ McKell Cup at Randwick on Saturday.

The lightly raced daughter of champion sire Redoute's Choice has been handled with great patience by the Hawkes Racing team and was sent out favourite for the 2400 metre staying test.

She ran up to expectation when surging clear to win by four lengths, taking her record to five wins from 11 starts with prizemoney topping $140,000.

"It's a shame she's not a three year-old as the Queensland Oaks next week would have been a perfect race for her," said winning rider James McDonald.

La Amistad (pictured Steve Hart) will now go to the spelling paddock with the spring carnival sure to be in her sights.

Passed in at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale shy of her $750,000 reserve, La Amistad was retained to race by Tony Santic's Makybe and partners and is the fifth winner for Tugela (USA).

The 115^th stakes-winner for Redoute's Choice, La Amistad is a three-quarter sister to triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, a full sister to Group II winner Musket and half-sister to Group III winner Valkyrie Diva.

Now 19 years of age, Tugela has a yearling full sister to Makybe Diva by Desert King and after missing in 2012 was covered last year by All Too Hard.

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