Makarova bowed out on a high when providing Ed Walker with the biggest success of his career in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp on Sunday.
Makarova ensured she went out on a high when leading the first nine UK-trained horses' home in the Prix de l'Abbaye Longines at Longchamp.
Makarova settled nicely under Tom Marquand behind Bradsell and Desperate Hero. Archie Watson's Nunthrope and Flying Five Stakes hero Bradsell looked as though he was about to bag another top-level prize as he struck the front under Hollie Doyle, but the pair were soon found wanting in the closing stages and Makarova powered on past to score by a going away one- and three-quarter lengths.
Bradsell battled on bravely to hold the runner-up spot from Believing, with Desperate Hero fourth and No Half Measures fifth. Grand Grey was the first French-trained horse to finish back in eleventh.
"This will be the last run of her career," said Walker. "She got a good break. She has been forgotten by the handicapper at 105. She ran a career-best last time out and the rain came at the right time for us today. She ran a huge race at the Curragh with a bad draw, so we had high expectations today".
"She's always been slightly underestimated by the punters, she's always a big price. Having finished third in a Group 1 last time out she was 16-1 today.
"She's been the underdog but she's very consistent, she doesn't do a lot wrong, especially when she gets conditions like this.
"We were a lot more confident in our camp than the odds would have suggested, she put in a career-best effort last time and probably upped it again today.
"That is the last run of her career, I'm pretty confident. Jeff (Hobby, owner) and I will discuss it, but she owes us nothing, that was the last roll of the dice.
"Everything came right so I think that will probably be it."
Winning rider Marquand said: "Everything went perfect on her. To be frank, as soon as I tacked onto the back of Bradsell, she began to travel.
"I knew we were live; they hadn't gone that quick so it was just whether we had that bit of speed, but I think that ground was probably slow enough to take the sting out of them and let her stamina come into play.
"I'm just thrilled for the owners as she is obviously homebred, and Ed has had her from day one as well – it's brilliant. Everything came together beautifully today, and it's seemed to the last couple of weeks.
"Whenever someone has said a horse is going to retire, they come out and win. I'm thrilled."
Victory saw Tom Marquand get the better of his wife Hollie Doyle, who partnered Bradsell into second place, and of the performance, the winning jockey added: "Unfortunately, there can only be one winner of every race. It's part of the job and whilst I'm sure she'll be disappointed Bradsell hasn't won, she'll be pleased too for me."
Doyle, who has ridden Bradsell in all but one of his starts, said: "He's run a huge race, jumped, travelled, I got to where I wanted to be.
"It just probably blunted his turn of foot (the going), when I push the button on quick ground he's away.
"I had to fight hard to get past the two on my inside, had those covered and got away from them and then unfortunately a mudlark has come for me late. I thought it was a great performance considering."
