Makin’s confidence in Bapak Chinta is justified

He had even more reason to be confident when Frederick Engels won Tuesday’s finale. This was a horse that Bapak Chinta, a striking grey, beat on a low-key racecourse debut at Hamilton last month.

And, while yesterday’s deluge gave Makin and Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan last-minute grounds for concern, they now have a top-class sprinter on their hands after running away with the Norfolk Stakes.

York’s prestigious Nunthorpe Stakes – won last year by Richard Fahey’s Wootton Bassett – is the most likely target for Bapak Vinta, a 6-1 chance who pulled comfortably clear of Boomerang Bob and Crown Dependency.

“I’ve always had a lot of faith in this horse,” said ecstatic Makin, who lives in Thirsk.

“I’ve never sat on a two-year-old as sharp as him. He tried his guts out but he didn’t like the ground – he’ll be a better horse on better ground. We gave him a blow with an older horse the other day and he was so impressive. I’m so glad he showed how good he is.”

Makin, 27 next week, could only dream about Royal winners when he was recovering from a serious back injury that he suffered on the gallops in 2007, and which curtailed his career for several months.

He has also had to come to terms with losing his retainer with top owner Andrew Tinkler, chief executive of the Eddie Stobart haulage firm.

However, Makin has never been short of confidence and added that he hoped this was “the first of many” personal successes at Royal Ascot.

It was Ryan’s second victory at the meeting and he plans to bide his time over the sprinter’s future.

“He’s a very young horse – we are going to have to look after him – but he will have an entry in the Nunthorpe (York) because two-year-olds get all the allowances,” said the trainer.

“We came here very confident, but the rain came and I just got a bit worried.

“His breeding suggests he wants top of the ground, but it’s a sign of a good horse when they can overcome that. He would have found it tough work on that ground, but he’s just a very good horse. He’s got a lovely attitude and is a joy to train.”