The odds-on favourite Jimmysstar had punters on their feet as he spent the length of the straight defying the stubborn Savannah Cloud in the Listed The Elms Hcp at Flemington when the dreaded outsider Makram (IRE) emerged from the pack.
Winless since April 2022, Makram (Make Believe) silenced the crowd when Harrey Coffey urged the $151 chance to a half-length win over Jimmysstar (Per Incanto), with Savannah Cloud (Savabeel) the same distance back in third.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said Makram had overcome several setbacks.
“Last prep he had to have surgery on both of his fetlocks, he got a couple of screws in and just didn’t have the confidence,” Ben Hayes said.
“I didn’t think we could win. He ran a really good race and hit the line over a trip too short, but horses can surprise you, and that is what he did today.
“The blinkers helped and he finished off strong. It is a big thrill to the whole team. He’s been frustrating, but go back through his early form, he has raced at the top level and been competitive.
“He’s shown us he’s back and ready to go.
“He just won over 1400 metres in a stakes race, and I think he gets better when he gets out over a trip. He beat Jimmystar who’s in the All-Star Mile.
“Might have to get an All-Star Mile ticket!
“We’ve got a question mark that maybe 2000 metres is his optimum trip. A lot of his form at Flemington is over 1700-metres. He loves this track but we’ll wait to see how he pulls up after this but we would love an All-Star Mile spot.”
With his first stakes win, the son of the Makifi stallion Make Believe advances his record to seven wins, five seconds, and a third from 25 starts with earnings of $497,485
The 7-year-old gelding was a most consistent performer in Europe for Roger Charlton, winning four and runner-up in four of his 11 starts before being sent by Barton Sales on behalf of Charlton's Beckhampton House stables to the 2021 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
Blandford Bloodstock / Lindsay Park had the final say at 340,000gns, the fifth most expensive lot of the sale.
A half-brother to the Listed VRC Bagot Handicap winner Spontaneous (IRE), Makram (IRE) is a son of the Sinndar mare Spontaneous, a sister to Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Youmzain (IRE), and a half-sister to Group 1 Lockhinge Stakes winner Creachadoir (King's Best) and Group III winner Shreyas (Dalakhani).
Makram is the tenth stakes-winner for Ballylinch Stud’s Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix de la Foret hero Make Believe (GB), who stands for €10,000.
