Second on debut behind subsequent Group II Run To The Rose third Nadal, the quality Snitzel filly Makarena overcame a torrid run to open her winning account in a 1250m maiden at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd for Team Hawkes, the flashy chestnut was hung out on a limb early and rushed up to sit outside the leader Kaizad.
Typical of the Tulloch Lodge inmates, Kaizad was not about to give up without a fight. The son of Capitalist found a better one on the day to go down by a long-neck with the Pariah gelding Ostraka a further two and a half lengths back in third.
Michael Hawkes said there was a lot to like about the win.
“Nothing went right for her. When she got caught deep and Zac elected to go forward, they put a bit of speed on,” Michael Hawkes said. "But the bit I loved most was between the six and seven hundred; he brought her back underneath. She trucked up on the corner with her ears pricked. She doesn’t know what she is doing yet. The last 50m was the best part of the race because Zac put the whip away and rode hands and heels, and she drew away.
“It takes a good horse to do what she did.
“She is a good filly, still very raw and still not there yet.”
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.
