While there was no shortage of intriguing challengers to even-money favorite
St Nicholas Abbey (Montjeu [Ire]) in Saturday’s
£400,000 Two Thousand Guineas, few latched on to unbeaten French raider MAKFI (Dubawi)
as the likeliest upsetter. Bred by Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud, but culled for
$44,842 as an unraced juvenile at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training
Sale, Makfi crossed the Channel, found a new lease of life with trainer Mikel
Delzangles, and returned to his homeland to pull a 33-1 surprise in the classic
over Newmarket’s Rowley Mile.
Makfi, sporting the colors of Mathieu Offenstadt, was reserved off the early
pace by Christophe Lemaire. Up front, Greyfriarschorista (King’s Best) took over
the pacesetting role, with Dick Turpin (Arakan) pressing the leader. Several
others, notably St Nicholas Abbey in his seasonal reappearance, were also
forwardly placed through the steady tempo.
When the 200-1 shot Greyfriarschorista began to fade from the scene, Dick
Turpin seized the baton and forged to the lead. St Nicholas Abbey began to come
under pressure, but found little and was soon outpaced. Dick Turpin’s
better-regarded stablemate, Canford Cliffs (Tagula), who was held up early
because of doubts regarding his stamina, rallied toward the stands’ side.
By that point, Makfi was producing a strong late run. Surging past Dick
Turpin, he drew 1 1/4 lengths clear while completing the good-to-firm mile in
1:36.35. Dick Turpin held second by a half-length from Canford Cliffs.
Xtension (Xaar) checked in fourth, followed by Elusive Pimpernel (Elusive
Quality), St Nicholas Abbey, Fencing Master (Oratorio [Ire]), Red Jazz
(Johannesburg), Al Zir (Medaglia d’Oro), Fair Trade (Fair Trade [GB]), Viscount
Nelson, Giant’s Causeway, Lord Zenith (Zamindar), Hearts of Fire (Firebreak),
Buzzword (Pivotal), Awzaan (Alhaarth), Inler (Red Ransom), Audacity of Hope (Red
Ransom), Greyfriarschorista and Elspeth’s Boy (Tiznow).
Now three-for-three, Makfi boosted his bankroll to
£274,129. The bay made a winning debut at
Fontainebleau on November 27 and did not reappear until April 8, when he
captured the Prix Djebel (Fr-G3) at Maisons-Laffitte by three lengths.
Makfi is from the first crop of the Dubai Millennium stallion Dubawi, hero of
the 2005 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1). Makfi’s dam, the unraced Green
Desert mare Dhelaal, is a half-sister to dual highweight Alhaarth (Unfuwain).
This is the family of French classic star and noted sire Green Dancer (Nijinsky
II), as well as European champion Authorized (Montjeu [Ire]), hero of the 2007
Derby (Eng-G1).