WHO:
Group 1 milers & middle distance gallopers.
WHAT:
Group 1 1600-metre weight-for-age
WHEN:
11 September, 2021
WHERE:
Flemington Racecourse
WHY:
To share a prize pool of $750,000
Who will win the Makybe Diva Stakes?
The Makybe Diva Stakes is usually by won by the best milers in Australia.
The race in run at Group 1 Weight-for-Age level and attracts the sharpest and toughest of horses who need to have a turn-of-foot in order to win.
It is usually a brutal type of race with this being the grand final for a lot of horses who target the the early Group races during the Spring Carnival.
Resuming stayers are capable of taking the event out as well should the race be run to suit as we saw with Southern Speed (2012) and Shocking (2010).
THE EARLY CONTENDERS
Inspirational Girl resumed for her new stable in the Memsie Stakes (1400 metres) at Caulfield and is now one of the favourites to take out this year’s Makybe Diva Stakes.
She was a bit tardy away from the barriers as she began her campaign under Danny O’Brien and whacked away well to finish 2.5 lengths off eventual winner Behemoth.
Expecting her to show at least 2-3 lengths improvement coming into race day on September 11th.
If Damien Oliver decides to stick with this mare then she must consisdered a huge winning hope.
She is in career best form this six-year-old mare.
Mike Moroney has her humming along and, if not for a misjudgement of pace by Craig Williams, might have just made it threes wins on the bounce.
She was heavily backed to win the Memsie Stkaes (1400 metres) and started favourite, but was pocketed by Behemoth in the run and by the time she got clear she had no momentum.
The gap between runs that day might also have just flattened her in what was a very solidly run Memsie and it will probably bring her on perfectly for this.
Mo’Unga possess the profile of horse that has won the Makybe Diva Stakes in the last handful of years.
He is a now a four-year-old stallion after impressing in his three-year-old season.
Anabel Neasham had him primed when first-up from his spell after some really nice trials and he scored brilliantly in the Winx Stakes (1400 metres) when scorching home up the middle of the Randwick straight to win.
Three of the last five winners have been stallions and he fits the mould perfectly here.
Probabeel avoided the Group 1 Memsie Stakes and instead targeted the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200 metres).
She won the race quite impressive after settling midfield and chasing home the tearaway leaders to win by half-a-length as a well backed $1.9 favourite.
The mare has clearly returned in fine fettle and is ready to have her go at another Group 1 mile in Australia.
She will need a dry track to continue to show her best, so make sure you keep an eye on the weather closer to the date.
Aegon put in a pearler of a run in the Memsie Stakes (1400 metres) when resuming from his spell.
He had a cracking first preparation in Australia after winning the Group 1 2000 Guineas over the mile in New Zealand.
Murray Baker does not bring his horses over here for a holiday and he looks the prototype miler.
Love the way this horse attacks the line and he looks to have taken to the warmer weather.
The big tick for him coming into this campaign as well is the removal of the synthetic hoof filler.
It shows he is going well and does not have the hoof/leg issues that weighed him down in the Group 1 Doncaster as suggested with that gear being applied.
He was an unknown commodity when making his debut down-under in the Winx Stakes (1400 metres) but he exceeded market expectations.
The Japanese import for Matthew Smith has vibes of Fierce Impact with the way he ferociously attacked the line behind Mo’unga.
Now that we have a gauge on what he is capable of, we can price him accordingly.
He is sure to take a heap of benefit from that run and is set to peak into this should Smith decide to go this way.
EARLY TIP – Keiai Natique each-way $10 the win and $3.3 the place
Keiai Natique is impeccably bred by champion sire Deep Impact and looks set to peak when getting to the mile.
The wide expanses of Flemington will suit him perfectly and we know how well Matthew Smith goes at training these Japanese imports.
He was only a couple of lengths Gran Alegria and Almond Eye who are amongst some of the best horses in the world.
He has ‘Fierce Impact’ written all over him.
THE FAMOUS WINNERS
2010-2020
It is tough to pick one horse that really stands out in this time frame.
Fierce Impact (2020) is as impressive a miler as we have seen grace the Australian soil.
The Lloyd Williams owned 2013 Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner was defeated by Dissident in 2014, but came out the following year to take the crown.
Shocking (2010), who won the Melbourne Cup in 2009, came out the following spring to score for Mark Kavanagh and Mick Rodd in what was some sort of an upset at $17.
The biggest upset in the race not only in this time, but probably in the race’s history, is Gatting (2019).
A West Australian galloper trained by Darren Mcauliffe sent Flemington in a spin when winning the race at $101 with most bookies.
1999-2009
Weekend Hussler (2008) was a crowd favourite and used this race as a catapult for this Group 1 success in the Underwood Stakes that very year.
He would go on to win the racehorse of the year in 2008.
Pompeii Ruler (2006) went on to win the race and set a great platform as he forged towards a Group 1 Australia Cup triumph the following year.
But we have left the best till last with Northerly (2002) the most accomplished horse to have won this event in this period.
1988-1998
Breeding superstar Zabeel launched his claim to fame by taking out the 1990 edition of this race.
Victoria Derby and Australia Derby winner Mahogany (1994) took out the race for owner Lloyd Williams and trainer Lee Freedman.
Champion stayer Jeune (1995) won the race in the twilight of his career for trainer Colin Hayes.
Other winners
Syphoning our way back through the history books unveils some incredible racehorses to have been victorious.
Dulcify (1979), Ming Dynasty (1977), Rain Lover (1969), Tobin Bronze (1966) and Light Fingers (1965) are a handful of the champion thoroughbreds that pop up in the records.
RECENT WINNERS
Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
2021 | Incentivise | Peter Moody | Brett Prebble | $4 |
2020 | Fierce Impact | Matthew Smith | Mark Zahra | $4 |
2019 | Gatting | Darren Mcauliffe | Jamie Kah | $101 |
2018 | Grunt | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | $10 |
2017 | Humidor | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | $12 |
2016 | Palentino | Darren Weir | Mark Zahra | $9 |
2015 | Fawkner | Robert Hickmott | Damien Oliver | $5 |
2014 | Dissident | Peter Moody | Ben Melham | $2.7 |
2013 | Foreteller | Chris Waller | Craig Newitt | $26 |
2012 | Southern Speed | L. MacDonald & A. Gluyas | Craig Williams | $3.7 |
2011 | Littorio | Nigel Blackiston | Craig Williams | $41 |
2010 | Shocking | Mark Kavanagh | Michael Rodd | $17 |
How do I bet on the Maykbe Diva Stakes?
Punch in betnation.com.au on your internet browser or download and open the Bet Nation application on your smart phone.
Find the racing futures markets and click on the Makybe Diva Stakes markets.
Here are all the main horses you can back to win the Makybe Diva Stakes.
