Lindsay Park galloper Makram has a habit of being a blowout horse for punters.
The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained galloper has registered a Flemington Stakes race win at $151, in which he lowered the colours of dual Group 1 winner Jimmysstar.
That was in February last year, and Makram’s form since has been mixed, although there were glimpses of his best when he resumed from a break at Cranbourne on April 18, finishing third over 1400m behind Bank Maur.
Makram heads to the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday as a $26 chance in early betting with Ben Hayes saying the stable rates the gelding a ‘top three or four chance’.
“We were quite happy with his first-up run and we’ve gone back to blinkers,” Hayes said.
“It’s a race that there should be some genuine pressure in, so we’ll let him balance from that draw and look to have him hit the line.
“He’s in at the right time of the year for him and I think he’s a genuine top three, top four chance.”
Makram started his career in the UK and registered three wins before making his way to Australia with hopes of being a Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup contender.
At his second Australian start Makram scored at Flemington before being put away for the spring, contesting lead-up races to the spring features before running second in the Herbert Power Stakes and third in the Geelong Cup in 2022.
Makram was raced sparingly through 2023, eventually requiring surgery, before winning first-up at Flemington in February last year.
Hayes said Makram’s current campaign had gone off without a hitch.
“He had some surgery two years ago and it’s taken a while for the joints to really settle down,” Hayes said.
“His joints are the best they have looked after the surgery and he’s a happy horse.
“He’s a horse that can bob up at big odds, he’s famous for it, so you never know, they may overdo it in front, and he could finish over the top.”
Pride Of Jenni heads betting at $2.40 from Regal Zeus at $4.80 with Hellsing on the next line at $7.
