Stakes Breakthrough for Makarena in G2 Golden Pendant

Mark Smith - Saturday September 28

Despite banking over $525,000, Makarena had yet to win a stakes race, an anomaly rectified in Saturday's Group II Racing And Sports Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill.

What a sight (image Steve Hart)

Given a positive ride by Zac Lloyd, the flashy chestnut daughter of Snitzel kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the Group 1 winning Siyouni mare Amelia's Jewel by one and a quarter lengths with the 4-year-old Frosted (USA) mare Arctic Glamour a half-neck back in third.

Trained by Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, Makarena was second in the Group II Phar Lap Stakes and Group III Eskimo Prince Stakes after winning the $500,000 Tapp-Craig at Rosehill last spring.

“She showed her true colours today,” Michael Hawkes said.

“It was all about getting her in a rhythm. Last start, nothing really went right for her. She just wanted to chase, the horse went off out in front and nothing went to plan. But today was a different race, 1400m, Zac got her into a beautiful rhythm and she travelled well.

“She’s still learning. She got to the front and had a bit of a look around, but when it counted, Zac just gave her a little nudge and away she went.”

“She has had a throat operation too, a tie-back. She had that last preparation and did what she did, came back with a new lease of life.

“She is only second-up today, so she is in for a really nice prep. She has got that Group win under her belt that we wanted and we’ve always had a really high opinion of her.

“The Invitation is there, Golden Eagle. It’s all there. There’s no rush.

Advertisement

“It was just about getting the Group win under her belt, and she has that now, which is great.”

Lots of chrome (image Steve Hart)

Purchased by her trainers for $250,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Makarena advances her record to three wins and three seconds from ten starts with earnings of  $755,750.

The 4-year-old daughter of Snitzel 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). 

Makarena a $250,000 Inglis Easter yearling

Hawkes Racing trekked back to the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to purchase a Castelvecchio half-brother to Makarena for $150,000.

Named Four Candles, the unraced 3-year-old is the most recent live foal of Wecansay, who has endured a heartbreaking few seasons. She missed to Dundeel last spring.

Makarena is the 148th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s flagship stallion, Snitzel.

Advertisment

Race Result - Racing and Sports Golden Pendant Gr2 1400m

Rosehill Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:23.12
1
Makarena
- 4m Snitzel (AUS) x Wecansay Mak (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54
2
1.2
Amelia's Jewel
- 5m Siyouni (FR) x Bumbasina (IRE) (Canford Cliffs (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Tommy Berry 58
3
1.4
Arctic Glamour
- 4m Frosted (USA) x Fartoo Flashy (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
4
3.1
Lekvarte
- 6m Reliable Man (GB) x Plumm (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J Parr 55.5
5
4.4
Semana
- 5m Winning Rupert (AUS) x Festivity (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 55
6
4.8
Sounds Of Heaven
- 5m Kingman (GB) x Ring The Bell (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
7
4.9
Tropical Squall
- 4m Prized Icon (AUS) x Squalls (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 59
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Makarena Leads Them a Merry Dance in Tapp-Craig
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.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
There's a Good Race in Makarena
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.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.