Perfect swansong for Makarova as 'forgotten mare' goes out on a high in Abbaye dominated by British sprinters

Makarova saved her best performance until last as she enjoyed the perfect swansong to her career when storming to success in the Prix de l'Abbaye under Tom Marquand.

The Ed Walker-trained five-year-old finished sixth in the race last year, but finally got her Group 1 breakthrough when reeling in Nunthorpe and Flying Five Stakes hero Bradsell. 

Believing once again hit the frame at the highest level in third, while Desperate Hero was also fourth for Britain, who dominated with the first nine home in the field.

Makarova, a Group 3 winner at Sandown in July, spectacularly reversed the form with Bradsell. She was no match for him when seventh in the Nunthorpe at York's Ebor festival, but fared better when third in the Flying Five last month.

She ended a two-year wait for another Group 1 success for Walker, whose last triumph at the highest level came at Longchamp in the 2022 Prix du Moulin with Dreamloper. 

He said: "She's kind of the forgotten mare. She was only rated 105 by the British handicapper beforehand, which is Listed level despite being Group 1-placed before and a Group 3 winner. She's always been underestimated and has always been a big price.

"She's been the underdog, but she's very consistent and never does a lot wrong, especially in conditions like this. We were more confident in our camp than the odds suggested. We feared Bradsell on fast ground, but always wanted to take him on when the rain came."

Walker said another run was off the cards for Makarova, who will now head to the breeding sheds.

Ed Walker and Tom Marquand: teamed up for Group 1 winCredit: Edward Whitaker

"That's the last run of her career, I'm pretty confident of it, as she owes us nothing," he added.

"It was the last roll of the dice. Everything came right and it truly reflected her ability, which had been underestimated."

Despite Bradsell's first defeat of the season, trainer Archie Watson was thrilled with his performance, and he already has his eyes set on more big-race glory at the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar next month.

"He's run a huge race and did nothing wrong," Watson said. "Hollie [Doyle] felt that, while he went on the ground, he was just a little bit vulnerable late to a closer. I couldn't be happier with him, he's run a massive race.

"I've always thought that the turning five furlongs over there in the US would really suit. We'll get him home and see if we're happy with him. That'll be the plan as long as everyone's happy."

While it was another defeat at the highest level for Believing, it was the fourth time the admirably consistent four-year-old has been in the first three in Group 1 contests.

Her rider Billy Loughnane said: "She’s run another unbelievably tough race. She broke nice, but I wasn’t going well enough early and ended up getting shuffled back through the field. 

"She handled the soft ground but she’s definitely better on a sounder surface. She's a star of a filly."

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