Makin purchases half-brother to new stallion Marcel

Paul Makin yesterday gave 150,000gns at Tattersalls for a Lope De Vega half-brother to Marcel, who the colourful Australian owner will stand at the National Stud in Newmarket next year. So now he has a racecourse replacement for the Racing Post Trophy winner, who did not run again after injuring himself when finishing last in the 2,000 Guineas.

"I saw this colt six months ago at the Hylands' farm and I loved him," Makin said of the Oghill House Stud-consigned lot. "I thought he was good value. I hope we can make him into a stallion as well."

Marcel has left big shoes to fill, but having noted the physical similarities between the siblings Makin was willing to invest in the Lope De Vega colt proving up to the task.