Four-year-old Makarska (Keeper x Stanica) claimed the third win of her career in the $8,000 Rating 75 Trinity Hill Mile (1600m) at Hastings yesterday.

Trained at Matamata by Ken and Bev Kelso, Makarska has placed in 12 of her 15 starts, finishing no further back than sixth place.

“She won nicely and it was a nice ride by Danielle (Johnson),” commented Ken Kelso. “It was a slow 7 but she seemed to handle the ground well and travelled nicely.”

Makarska passed the line one-and-a-half lengths ahead of McDaids (Ruby’s Jester) who came in second and Pearls (Sudurka) who took third place.

Leading New Zealand jockey Danielle Johnson went forward from an outside barrier and was steady throughout the race. Taking the lead in the last 200m, Makarska sprinted away from the field to win the race in a time of 1.40.36.

“Danielle was quite impressed with her and thought she ran on nicely,” said Kelso. “She commented she was a progressive horse looking to go forward.

“At this stage we haven’t decided where to next for Makarska. We are just looking to get her over this trip as it was a big journey to Hastings, especially with it being a twilight meeting.”

The Sir Peter Vela owned mare has shown strong consistency throughout her racing career, earning $32,170 to date.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, the four-year-old daughter of Keeper is out of Stanica (Zabeel) who finished second in the Group 1 Avondale Gold Cup. She is a half-sister to Rhythm to Spare (Pins), Stanica’s first black type winner in the Group 3 f SAJC RA Lee Stakes.

Stanica foaled a filly this year by All Too Hard, a half-brother to champion Black Caviar.