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.

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“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.

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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
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