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Makderah is the toast of New York Shadwell Stable's homebred MAKDERAH (Ire) (Danehill) stamped herself as a rising turf star when spread-eagling a quality field in Saturday's $190,000 New York Breeders' Cup S. (G2). In the process, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee capped a day of varied fortunes for Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum. Just a few hours earlier at Royal Ascot, Shadwell colorbearer Maraahel (Alzao) had successfully defended his title in the Hardwicke S. (Eng-G2). Unfortunately, that evening, Shadwell's Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes) was retired after sustaining a cracked sesamoid. Jockey Alan Garcia, who was riding Makderah for the first time, settled the four-year-old bay at the tail of the field in the early going. At the head of proceedings, For Always (War Chant) dictated splits of :24, :49 1/5 and 1:13 3/5 while pressed by 6-5 favorite Jade Queen (Giant's Causeway). Hostess (Chester House) skimmed the rail just behind the leading pair, with La Dolce Vita (Quiet American) and Masseuse (Dynaformer) to her outside. Turning for home, Jade Queen struck the front, only to be collared by Masseuse. Looming widest of all was Makderah, who suddenly vaulted into contention in a matter of strides and drew off just as rapidly. The farther they went, the farther clear she was. Makderah flashed under the wire four lengths in front, stopping the teletimer in 2:00 for 1 1/4 miles on Belmont Park's firm inner turf. The 5-2 second choice returned $7.50, $4.50 and $3.20. "When you step up from a 'two other than' (allowance) to a Grade 2, you don't think you are going to see the same result," McLaughlin said, alluding to Makderah's 5 3/4-length romp in her second American outing on May 31. "But it was exactly the same. It even looked like she won by the same amount of lengths that she won by last time. She was pretty impressive. Alan did a great job of getting her back off the pace early." "I was happy with my position," Garcia said. "She broke so great, but Kiaran told me to take her back. After that, I was waiting and waiting. When I asked her, she was gone. She just broke again. That was impressive." The 7-2 Masseuse bravely held second by a neck, giving back $5.70 and $3.50. Hostess salvaged third by a head from Jade Queen, yielding $3.70 to show at 6-1. The exotics were worth $36.40 (exacta) and $130.50 (8-5-1 trifecta). La Dolce Vita reported home another half-length back in fifth, and For Always trailed. Vacare (Lear Fan), the 2-1 morning-line favorite, was scratched because of an entrapped epiglottis. Barancella (Fr) (Acatenango) was also withdrawn. "It's very frustrating because I thought this race today was the perfect spot for her," trainer Christophe Clement said of Vacare, who will undergo surgery on Monday to correct the problem. "That's racing. She'll live to fight another day." With this first graded stakes victory on her resume, Makderah advanced her record to 10-4-2-3 with $208,594 in earnings. She began her career under the tutelage of Marcus Tregoning in England. After breaking her maiden at Newbury in her second start, Makderah competed exclusively in stakes company for the remainder of 2006. She captured the October S. and placed in the Oak Tree S. (Eng-G3), Sandringham H. and Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial S. Makderah was transferred to the United States for her four-year-old campaign, which began inauspiciously with a distant second in a Keeneland allowance. The Irish-bred is out of stakes-placed Wijdan (Mr. Prospector), making her a half-sister to Italian Group 2 heroine Oriental Fashion (Marju), and she hails from one of the most productive families in the stud book. As a daughter of champion and influential broodmare Height of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino), Wijdan is a three-quarters sister to multiple Group 1-winning highweight Nayef (Gulch). Wijdan's half-siblings include once-beaten dual classic winner Nashwan (Blushing Groom [Fr]) and multiple English Group 2 hero Unfuwain (Northern Dancer), both noted sires. Makderah's third dam is Highclere (GB) (Queen's Hussar), winner of the 1974 English One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1). This is also the family of Japanese superstar Deep Impact (Sunday Silence). McLaughlin isn't sure where Makderah will go next. "I have to look ahead now," the horseman said. "I haven't planned anything for her beyond this."
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