Progressive three-year-old Makarios (by Giant’s Causeway) is one of 11 three-year-olds set to do battle in the G1 Belmont Derby, to be run at Belmont Park on Saturday.

The 2000m Derby, run for a purse of $1.2 million, has attracted a field of some of North America’s most gifted 3yo turf specialists, including last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Oscar Performance.

The lightly raced Makarios, who hails from the yard of trainer Nick Zito, was third in the recent G3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland.

Interestingly, Makarios is a three-parts brother to young Cape sire Where’s That Tiger, who currently stands at The Alchemy.
A son of Storm Cat (sire of Giant’s Causeway), Where’s That Tiger and Makarios are both out of the blue blooded Mr Prospector mare Blissful, a full-sister to G1 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, whose progeny have earned more than $80 000 000 in prize money.

The classic placed Where’s That Tiger, whose first South African crop are now yearlings, has a superb strike rate from a limited number of runners in this country.
From just 10 runners in South Africa, Where’s That Tiger has been represented by seven winners –including the high class stakes performers Supertube, Tiger’s Touch, Tiger Quest and G1 SA Derby third Samurai Blade.