After declaring that there is a good race in the Snitzel filly Makarena following her midweek win at Canterbury, it took just one more start to be proved right.
While there was no black-type for Saturday’s Toyota Forklifts Tapp-Craig (1400m) at Rosehill, connections can console themselves with a cheque for $287,000 from the $500,000 pot.
That’s $117,000 more than King’s Gambit earned for winning the previous race, the Group II Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).
Ridden by Tyler Schiller for Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, Makarena travelled sweetly on the outside of The Little Pumper. Hitting the front at the 200m, the daughter of Snitzel comfortably held the challenge of Godolphin’s Sidestep gelding Razors by three-quarters of a length with the Snitzel colt Snapback a long-head back in third.
Second on debut to Nadal in a high-quality maiden at Randwick-Kensington, Makarena advances her record to two wins and a second from three start with earnings of $325,750.
“She’s just a really nice filly,” Michael Hawkes said.
"She’s had to do it the hard way again today, three-wide early. The best part about her is she just comes back and relaxes well, and Tyler got to the front probably a little bit too soon, to be fair.
“It wasn’t his fault it was just the way the race panned out. She’s just a star. I’m talking from a trainer's point of view, but when you own it, it’s probably that little bit more special.
“My wife Claire, my mother Jenny and Wayne’s wife Jane are in the ownership.
“We loved her at the sales, and she’s done nothing wrong today; she’s still learning. The sky’s the limit, really.
“She’s in the Callendar-Presnell (Stakes), it’s a mile. We’ve just taken every baby step with her, and she’s only had three starts, but she’s very promising.
“I think we’re going to see her best in the autumn. When you’re racing for half a million dollars, it’s a lot of money on offer. Winners are winners, and the family is happy. It’s good to get a nice horse back in the stable, especially when you own it.”
Purchased by her trainers for $250,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Makarena is a half-sister to Group III Summoned Stakes winner Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) and stakes-placed Maximak (Smart Missile).
She is the third winner from four to race for the winning Starcraft mare Wecansay Mak, a sister to dual Group 1 winner We Can Say it Now, the dam of French Group III winner Star Kingdom (Montjeu).
Hawkes Racing trekked back to the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to purchase a Castelvecchio half-brother to Makarena for $150,000.
After missing in 2021, Wecansay Mak visited Dundeel last spring.
