There are high expectations for La Amistad and the mare has played her part with victory in the WJ McKell Cup at Randwick.

A three-quarter sister to champion stayer Makybe Diva, La Amistad passed a vital qualifying test for the major spring Cups by winning Saturday's 2400-metre race.

While her senior trainer John Hawkes was trying to keep a lid on her future plans, her jockey James McDonald was among those barely able to contain his excitement.

Michael Sullivan, the former chief executive of corporate bookmaker Sportingbet Australia, is among her owners and admits the Melbourne Cup, the race Makybe Diva won three times, is in their thoughts.

"I would be lying if I said it wasn't," Sullivan said.

"It might be too big to dream and it will be up to her trainer."

In typical fashion, her trainer said patience was the key.

"She will make her own path," Hawkes said.

"We will give her a break now and 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.

"This was an important win because it gets her rating up so she can compete in better races."

Sent out the $2.80 favourite, La Amistad came form back in the field with an explosive finishing sprint to beat Destiny's Kiss ($3.80) by four lengths.

"That was exciting," McDonald said.

"I gave her one around the backside and she just took off."

It was La Amistad's fifth win from 11 starts and her third in succession.

Sullivan races the four-year-old mare with a group which includes Makybe Diva's owner Tony Santic.

"I have always had a horse with Tony including Purrealist who is our stallion now," Sullivan said.

"We have been very patient with this mare because she is so closely related to Makybe Diva.

"It is just wonderful to see her win the way she did."

Makybe Diva won the first of her three Melbourne Cups as a five-year-old and the TAB has cut her sister's price to emulate that feat.

La Amistad firmed from $51 to $26 within minutes of her win.

The Hawkes family training partnership completed a two-state stakes double when Zephyron took out the Group Three Premier's Cup at Doomben.