Declaration Of War's Winning Ways Carries Paul Makin's Silks to Victory in QLD Oaks

Mark Smith - Saturday June 1

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.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Foal Gallery Star Wins Melbourne Cup
Boutique Hunter Valley nursery Kitchwin Hills have always been great supporters of the Breednet Foal Gallery and when they sent in this image back in 2015 of a colt by Declaration of War (USA) from Geblitzt it’s fairly safe to say nobody thought we had a Melbourne Cup winner in the making.
A Hometown Win for Declaration Of War's Vow And Declare in Melbourne Cup
For the first time since Shocking ten years ago, an Australian bred, owned and trained horse has fought off the best handicappers from around the world to earn an historic win in the 159th running of the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Derby Contender for Declaration of War
A $65,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase from the draft of Mill Park Stud for Sam Freedman and De Burgh Equine, promising staying three year-old Warning announced himself as a Victoria Derby contender with a strong finishing win in the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes.