Lindsay Park is hoping the keen eye of the UK bloodstock agent that picked out Zaaki will provide them with a potential Cups contender in the spring.
Irish-bred Makram makes his Australian debut in the Seppelt Wines Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday having been purchased at the Tattersalls Ready To Run Sale in Newmarket last year.
Stuart Boman, the man responsible for securing All-Star Mile winner Zaaki for clients of Annabel Neasham, was instrumental in getting Makram for his new trainers Ben and Jd Hayes .
“Stuart Boman found him and he’s a horse that we liked, he had some nice form overseas from 1400 metres to 2400 metres,” Ben Hayes said.
“So, we thought he was a nice horse to purchase, we got him for a nice price and was able to get some nice loyal clients into him.
“He arrived in fantastic order and he’s a stayer that looks like he’s got a little bit of speed.
“We’ve been impressed with his couple of trials and while he’s won over 1400 metres, he might find it on the short side on Saturday, but as long as he’s hitting the line, I’d expect him to be competitive.”
Hayes said Makram would have a quiet preparation this campaign and hopes the five-year-old will measure up to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in the spring.
He said Makram had similar credentials to Zaaki when that galloper arrived on Australian shores.
“I’m not saying he’s anywhere near as good as Zaaki, but if he could go on and win a couple of races, he might be a really good horse for the spring,” Hayes said.
“We’re hopeful of getting him to the Caulfield Cup, that would be the end game.
“He’s a horse that has acclimatised really well.
“He’s a lovely deep horse, well put together, not one of those narrow stayers, and the Australian way of training, he’s adapted to it really well.”