His son Marky Mark opens Group account in New Zealand. Bonneval sire Makfi lost no time in making an impact in 2015 as his son Marky Mark provided him with a first Group success on New Year’s Day.

From Makfi’s first crop of Southern Hemisphere two-year-olds, Marky Mark soundly beat a strong field in the Gr. 3 Eclipse Stakes over six furlongs at Ellerslie. Unbeaten in two outings to date, the exciting colt will now be aimed at New Zealand’s autumn Group 1 juvenile contests.

His trainer Moira Murdoch believes that there is more to come from Marky Mark, “Wasn’t that impressive,” she declared after the victory, “It was a super field and there was a strong pace. He’s a real professional. He’s always been a real character and is still untapped.”

Conceived during his sire’s first shuttle season at New Zealand’s Westbury Stud, Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s homebred Marky Mark is out of the Gr. 2 placed mare My My Maree (Testa Rossa), full sister to Gr. 1 South Australian Derby winner Testafiable.

A dual Group 1 winner over a mile (2000 Guineas & Prix Jacques Le Marois), Dubawi sire Makfi will stand at the Aga Khan Studs’ Haras de Bonneval in Normandy for the 2015 covering season.

Available for a fee of 17,500 Euros, Makfi is the sire of 21 individual winners, including Listed winner Cornwallville and three further Stakes performers.

Updated on 05/01/2015.