A week after the death of Paul Makin, the Gary Newham-trained filly Winning Ways carried the Makin colours to victory in a roughhouse Group 1 Treasury Brisbane Qld Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Given a copybook ride from a wide barrier, Winning Ways provided young jockey Matt McGillivray with his first Group 1 winner.
The daughter of Declaration Of War (USA) defeated the $151 chance Dawson Diva (Falvelon) by a half-neck with a head to Lady Cuvee (Savabeel) in third place ahead of Angel Of Heaven (Redoute's Choice) who looked in danger of falling several times after overracing fiercely for a large portion of the race. (image Racing QLD )
Paul Makin and Gary Newham had reached the pinnacle with the AJC Derby winner Starcraft and Newham confided he told the leviathan owner he had an Oaks filly in Winning Ways.
"I had a lot of confidence in her today, having the race away from Eagle Farm probably dented my hopes a little bit, but I'd always set her for this race." Newham said.
"Paul (Makin) was looking down on us today, to win in his colours was just amazing.
"Paul brought me back to racing, when he trusted me with this beautiful filly, I was driving trucks.
"He's been amazing to me and I hope we've done him and his family proud.
"I said to Paul six to eight months ago we'll win the Oaks with this filly and after her run in The Roses he said to me you're right she will win the Oaks.
"She's only just scratched the surface this filly, once she's fully furnished she could win the Caulfield Cup this horse.
"It's great to give him (Matthew McGillivray) his first Group 1, he's stuck with the horse and it took a bold ride to get her home today."
Some gloss was taken off the win came when it was revealed Winning Ways had bled after the race resulting in an automatic three-month ban.
But there was no denying her beaming young jockey the joy of a riding his first Group 1 winner.
"This is what we do it for, all the hard yards getting up at 3.30 in the morning, having a sweat, keeping your weight down it's all worth it now this is a dream come true," McGillivray said
"I did about eighty thousand kilometres my first year I went to Birdsville, Longreach, Barcaldine, Roma I can't be more thankful to everyone that's helped me.
"I didn't get a chance to meet Paul Makin, but I knew the bond between him and Gary, I just wish he was here to give him a big hug.
"She was a bit unlucky last start, she could have been right in the finish, but today I let go early and made my own luck."
Purchased by Dermot Farrington Bloodstock for $110,000 out of the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Winning Ways (pictured as a yearling ) advances her record to 7 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds from 13 starts with earnings of $479,200.
Bred by Coolmore, Winning Ways is a half-sister to the dual Listed stakes-winner Dreamtime Dancer (Danehill Dancer) and the 7-time winner Cosmologist (Uncle Mo).
They are the only three foals left by the winning Galileo mare Skip Along (GB) before her death in September 2015 a few weeks after the birth of Winning Ways.
A half-sister to the Listed Goodwood Predominate Stakes winner Unfurled (Unfuwain), Skip Along (GB) was a daughter of the Listed stakes-winner Peonay (Lion Cavern) who was runner-up in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp.
Peonay's dam Persiandale (Persian Bold) is a half-sister to charismatic import Raffindale, the winner of the 1977 AJC Epsom Handicap.
Winning Ways becomes the second Group 1 winner for Declaration Of War (USA) (image Mark Smith ) after the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) winner Olmedo
The dual Group 1 winning son of War Front covered just two books at Coolmore Stud.
