Victorian based breeders Tony and Deslee Santic have bred another black-type winner from the family of their Melbourne Cup legend Makybe Diva.

La Amistad (4m Redoute’s Choice – Tugela by Irish River) joined the honour-roll with a dominant victory in the LR McKell Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

A homebred for the Gnarwarre based couple, La Amistad is a three-quarter-sister to Makybe Diva and a full-sister to G2 STC Shannon Stakes winner Musket.  She is also a half-sister to G3 MVRC Tesio Stakes winner Valkyrie Diva.

La Amistad also credited champion sire Redoute’s Choice with his 115th stakes winner.  She was retained by her breeders after failing to reach a $750,000 reserve at the 2011 Inglis Easter yearling sale.  They race her in partnership with Greg Ingham and Michael Sullivan.

Trained by Team Hawkes, La Amistad broke her maiden at Bendigo in October and will now spell after winning 5 of 10 starts this season.

“She could be a Melbourne Cup horse but that’s a dream at this stage,” John Hawkes said.  “She is not Makybe Diva but she is going to make her own way.  It is a good win for the owners because they have been patient and that takes you a long way.

“She will be better in the spring and even better next autumn.  She is a lovely mare to deal with but we won’t be getting too carried away just yet.”

The Santics have a yearling full sister to Makybe Diva by Bombora Downs sire Desert King and the mare is back in foal to Vinery freshman All Too Hard.