Marcel's first winner Marcella Mia bred by his late owner Paul Makin

Marcella Mia became a poignant first winner for Marcel when the filly won a 7f claimer at Vichy on Thursday, as she was bred by the stallion's late owner Paul Makin and raced by his previous owner Paul Hancock.

The Gavin Hernon-trained filly was snapped up by Hancock for just £2,000 at the Goffs UK December Sale last year, having been pinhooked by Troy Steve for 10,000gns as a foal at Tattersalls the previous December.

Steve also picked out Marcel as a yearling, having purchased him for 26,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Sale.

Ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, Marcella Mia had the measure of 12 opponents on what was her third start, seeing off the Captain Chop filly Adri Lane by the best part of a length.

Marcella Mia was bred by Makin out of Carenot, an Iffraaj half-sister to Phoenix Stakes scorer Dick Whittington and from the family of champion sprinter Owington.

Makin, who died at the age of 82 last May, acquired Marcel from Hancock after he won the Racing Post Trophy at two, while his only start as a three-year-old was an out-of-sorts run in the 2,000 Guineas won by Galileo Gold.

The son of Lawman was subsequently retired to the National Stud in Newmarket and he has a first crop of 20 juveniles to run for him this year.

The attractive bay was later transferred to Alastair Pim's Anngrove Stud in County Laois, where he has stood the past two seasons alongside Aiken, Famous Name and Vendangeur.

Read more...

'It's been phenomenal' – vendors look back on a breeze-up season like no other

(£) Major milestone as Anngrove Stud celebrates 50 years in business

Nicest the second juvenile winner out of €6m mare Chicquita