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