Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Hawkes stable has a very good opinion of their beautifully bred 3-year-old filly Makarena (Snitzel), and judging by her victory in Race 1 at Canterbury, they are entitled to feel that way.
Having finished second on debut to the promising Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}), who has since come out and run a close third behind in the G2 Run to the Rose behind star colt Cylinder (Exceed And Excel), Makarena was sent off as an odds-on favourite in the 1250-metre maiden.
The filly used some petrol tickets early, burning across from barrier six under Zac Lloyd to sit outside the leader Kaizad (Capitalist). Makarena showed plenty of tenacity in the run to the line to shade the Tulloch Lodge-trained Kaizad by 0.44l.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes was effusive in his praise of Makarena post-race, telling Sky Thoroughbred Central: “Unfortunately, nothing really went right for her. When she got caught deep and Zac elected to go forward, they put a bit of speed on, but the part I loved most… when he got to the 600-700 metre mark, he brought her back underneath.
“She trucked up on the corner with her ears pricked.
Michael Hawkes | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She doesn’t know what she is doing yet.
“Probably the last 50 metres was the best part of the race because Zac just put the whip away and rode her hands and heels, and she drew away in the end.
“You can’t do it from barrier to box all the time like that, it takes a good horse to do it, and she’s good.
“You can’t do it from barrier to box all the time like that, it takes a good horse to do it, and she’s (Makarena) good.” - Michael Hawkes
“She’s just a good filly, she’s very raw, she’s not there yet, and hopefully we will get the best out of her in time to come. We’re just taking one step at a time, but she’s very good.”
Lloyd also spoke in glowing terms of Makarena. He was particularly impressed by her will to win.
“She showed a lot, that was a tough win,” he said.
“Her first start didn’t quite go to plan, and it didn’t quite go to plan (on Wednesday) either, but she showed a lot more maturity in her race.
“I think once she gets a sit and she’s able to relax from the box, I think she will be very nice.”
Makarena as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Makarena is owned by Gary Lechte and his wife, Chris, and members of the Hawkes family. The filly races in Lechte’s famous notable fluorescent yellow silks.
Interestingly, the filly holds a nomination for the G1 Caulfield Guineas, to be run on October 14.
Offered by her breeder - Arrowfield Stud - at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Makarena was knocked down to Hawkes Racing for $250,000. She is the fourth living foal of the winning Starcraft (NZ) mare Wecansay Mak, making the filly a half-sister to the Group 3 victress Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) and the stakes performer Maximak (Smart Missile). Wecansay Mak is a sister to the dual Group 1 heroine We Can Say it Now - the dam of Sky Kingdom (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) - a Group 3 winner in France.
Castelvecchio x Wecansay Mak (colt) purchased by Hawkes Racing for $150,000 at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
Hawkes Racing purchased Makarena’s Castelvecchio half-brother for $150,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Exceed filly breaks the ice
Soon after Makarena shed her maiden tag, the James Cummings-trained Lost (Exceed And Excel) followed suit, notching her first win in Race 4 over 1100 metres.
Lining up for her second start, having debuted with a fourth-placing in the same race as Makarena, Lost enjoyed a lovely run in transit. After having the drop on race favourite Kundalini (I Am Invincible), Lloyd angled out on Lost soon after turning for home and she went on with the job, scoring by 0.48l.
Lost winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“James (Cummings) has done a fabulous job with her in the sense that he’s just given her time. She’s quite a quirky type of filly. She’s very enthusiastic and just wants to get on with the job,” Godolphin stable representative, Darren Beadman, told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“As was well highlighted last start, she didn’t have a lot of luck in running.
“She’ll take a lot of confidence from this.
“The penny’s starting to drop with her.
“I think she’s a filly going places.”
“I think she’s (Lost) a filly going places.” - Darren Beadman
A homebred for Godolphin, Lost is the fifth foal from the Listed victress Abduction (Street Cry {Ire}). That mare, who is a half-sister to the stakes winners Retrieve (Rahy {USA}) and Reparations (Exceed And Excel), has also thrown the two-time winners Sequestered (Pierro) and Raison D’Etre (Exceed And Excel).
The filly’s grandam, Hold To Ransom (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}), won in Listed company at Ascot in the UK.
Other stakes winners on Lost’s page include Blingo (USA) (Artie Schiller {USA}), Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Swipe Up (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
