Makiv Named New Director of Godolphin Australia

Andy Makiv has been appointed as Godolphin Australia’s new managing director.

Makiv, who has worked in various roles at the company in Victoria, becomes the third head of the operation that has had a major presence in Australia since 2008, and replaces Vin Cox after he departed Godolphin Australia last October to take up the role as Yulong’s general manager.

“It is a new phase in my career and it has been a very ‘Godolphin’ career,” Makiv told ANZ Bloodstock News. “I’m honored to be part of such a dynamic organization. I’m excited to continue working with our great people, elite bloodstock, and world-class facilities as we pursue further success both on the track and with our stallion roster.”

Having joined Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global operation as a nominations manager of Darley Victoria in 2008, Makiv was then promoted to general manager in the state and was most recently the company’s head of sales.

Flying the flag for Godolphin on the track this season are some ultra-talented homebreds in the shape of dual group 1-winning juvenile Broadsiding, last weekend’s Run To The Rose (G2) winner Traffic Warden, and Pericles, a strong fancy for the Sept. 21 Underwood Stakes (G1) at Caulfield.

As with any new appointment changes are likely to ensue, but Makiv is conscious to keep the status quo of how Godolphin produces future successful stallions and broodmares.

“I am very conscious we are an operation that starts on the studs, we are in the stallion business and starts with great stud managers and their teams that look after the broodmares, the foals and it is on the farm that we start the education process,” he said.

“The racing stable then takes that on after that, and horses like Traffic Warden and Broadsiding, who are heading towards group 1s, are testament to the fact we are getting it right on the farms and at the racing stables.

“The operation starts on the farm, goes to the racetrack, and hopefully the cycle of stallions and great broodmare continues.”

As for the stallions, eight of which stand at Darley’s Northwood Park base in Victoria, while New South Wales’ Kelvinside is home to nine of the operation’s inmates, including multiple group 1-winning champion Anamoe, whose first foals are hitting the ground this season.

“We have a young stallion roster,” he said. “We are in a transition phase—the great stallions like Exceed And Excel, Lonhro, and Street Cry have retired or passed on, so the next phase for us is very much Anamoe, Bivouac, Pinatubo, etc.

“But we are having a really good run this spring with horses by Harry Angel and Street Boss and we have a great colt by Too Darn Hot. So while he didn’t come down, we have one of his dual group 1-winning sons in the wings, so the stallion roster is young, but very exciting. We think the future looks really bright and we are excited about what is ahead.”

Anamoe’s sire Street Boss  is very much leading the way and has enjoyed a blistering start to the season, with his 12 winners from 52 starters headed by Memsie Stakes (G1) scorer Pinstriped.