Belief in Makfi pays off with classic win
He was also a first European Group One success for his sire, following up Marky Mark's recent victory at the top level in New Zealand.
Make Believe, who made all the running in today's race before stretching clear to win by three lengths from his Andre Fabre-trained stablemate New Bay, was conceived at Tweenhills Farm and Stud, which was Makfi's home for four seasons following his retirement from the racecourse. A Classic-winning son of Dubawi, he was relocated to HH Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval in France for the 2015 covering season.
Quoted by racingpost.com, Make Believe's jockey, Olivier Peslier, said: "He is a horse who is the ideal type to try and make all and I didn´t hesitate in trying to do so. He broke well and although he was a little bit keen early I managed to settle him quite quickly. When you get on a roll like that you don´t want to stop them and he finished very well. Monsieur Fabre gave me carte blanche to ride him how I wanted and, with a horse like him with a lot of speed, on good ground and with a good draw, that was always the race I wanted to ride."
Make Believe, who is owned by Prince Faisal, was bred at Simon Hope's Aston Mullins Stud and sold for 180,000gns as a foal to Hugo Merry Bloodstock at Tattersalls' December Sale. Foaled by the Suave Dancer mare Rosie's Posy, he comes from the family of top-grade winners Dubawi Heights and Tante Rose. Royal Ascot's Gr.1 St James's Palace Stakes is now a likely target for Make Believe.
The Pearl Bloodstock-owned Cornwallville finished ninth in today's Poule D'Essai Des Poulains, while Qatar Racing's Flaming Spear was eleventh of the 18 runners.
Also on the Longchamp card, Qatar Racing's Hot Streak opened his 2015 campaign with a very promising run in the Gr.3 Prix de Saint-Georges, finishing third of the 12 runners. Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, the Kevin Ryan-trained Hot Streak was beaten two lengths and three-quarters of a length by winner Mecca's Angel and Robert Le Diable. Qatar Racing's Pearl Secret came home in eighth.
Picture of Make Believe from Equidia_Live