You know Spring is here when Group l racing is at Flemington and that is what we look forward to this Saturday with the $500,000 Group l Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), named in honour of the three time Melbourne Cup winning mare who is the only horse in history to win at four Melbourne Cup Carnivals, and in succession.

The 2014 edition of the race promises to be a ripper, with Memsie Stakes (1400m) winner Dissident heading the betting ahead of Boban and Puissance De Lune. Fawkner and Green Moon, the Team Williams pair, kick off their campaign here in search of more Spring glory.

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Race One (12:30) : Cap D’Antibes Stakes 1100m:

Back Me: She might not be in a high profile stable, and her prior form was suspect, but you had to be impressed with the finishing burst of Sabatini to win the Quezette, coming from last and swooping on her rivals to win. She’ll go back again and look for cover from the wide draw, but there looks to be a lot of speed here and handles all conditions, so she looks the safe way to go.
Big Danger: Big watch on Lumosty here for Robert Smerdon. She showed great promise during the Autumn in two runs, finishing third to Eloping on debut before taking ground off Earthquake in the Blue Diamond Prelude. Jumpouts in preparation for this have been sharp and she could be in for a Group l spring if she takes natural improvement, which it seems she has.
Roughie: There was plenty to like about the debut win of White House Lady at Mornington nearly a month ago where she jumped on the bunny, travelled well on the speed and booted nicely on the turn to win by a handsome margin. She was due to run at the Valley last Saturday but was scratched, but the Tuesday before then, she was one of the best workers on the morning at the track, better than the likes of The Offer and Star Rolling.

Race Two (13:00) : Sofitel Girls’ Day Out Handicap 2000m:

Back Me: Going to stick solid with Trade Commissioner. There was plenty of merit in his first up seventh to Entirely Platinum, then went to Caulfield to tackle the Australian Bloodstock and got caught up between runners, and really didn’t look 100% when down the track to the impressive Stipulate. Back to a bigger track now, up to 2000m and he was very good third up last time in.
Big Danger: Marksmanship boxed on solidly in that Caulfield race won by Stipulate after being given every chance by Michelle Payne. That was his first run in six weeks so I anticipate there will be improvement from that outing, and the fact he steps up to 2000m now and draws well, he’ll get every chance to return a winner.
Roughie: Former Lloyd Williams galloper Livery was very impressive in his first run under the care of Robert Smerdon at Sportingbet Park, sustaining a long run with 61.5kg and bobbing at the right time to win. Tumbles down to 54kg, also has a stack of upside and is still lightly raced.

Race Three (13:35) : Spring Is The Season Handicap 1700m:

Back Me: Pretty keen on Signoff to bounce back here. Completely forgive his first up failure at Caulfield given the stop/start tempo was against him, and it got him chasing a fair way from home, then when he picked up and was looking a chance, he got hemmed away on the rail and never got a crack. His trials and exhibition gallopers prior were outstanding and only needs an ounce of luck to just about take care of these.
Big Danger: Team Williams could have another beauty in The United States, who caught the eye of every punter with his third at the Valley to Mourinho. He was forced very wide on the turn, and was out the back before balancing up and really savaging the line late to run third. What made the run so good was the fact that on the meeting it was very hard to make up ground from the back. More fair racing surface here, fitter and draws to get a clear run.
Roughie: Ominous made a nice return to racing at Caulfield when fourth to Henwood, making up good ground late from a midfield position. He has a pretty good record second up, suited by the extra ground and is on his home track, so from the good draw, he’ll get every chance with Oliver in the saddle.

Race Four (14:10) : Living Legends Stakes 1400m:

Back Me: Could easily be mistaken for the Caulfield Guineas, because there is great depth here. It was very hard not to be impressed by the first up win of Chivalry in the McNeil, coming from near last on the turn and sweeping home out wide to win quite softly on the line. He always promised to be a very good three year old and so far, he is living right up to that. Should get on the back of Merion and get the perfect drag into the race. Very hard to beat.
Big Danger: The three year old talked up as the one to beat for the Spring is Divan, and really, he also was excellent in his first up win albeit in a city maiden. On face value, he only won by a half neck and the time was nothing flash, but there was a serious on pace bias at that meeting and he pulled his head off out the back, so it was a massive effort for him to win. Query that it might make him flat here, but he is too good to dismiss.
Roughie: The United States made up a stack of ground at that Valley meeting we mentioned earlier, but another who was excellent from the back was Fast Cash in the McKenzie behind Rich Enuff. He bungled the start and was forced to sit near last, then come to the extreme outside, and by then, the winner kicked on the bend. His run under the circumstances was unbelievable, so I’m giving him serious consideration. He’ll be an even better proposition if he jumps cleanly.

Race Five (14:45) : Let’s Elope Stakes 1400m:

Back Me: Really good edition of the Let’s Elope, but I’ve got it down to four winning hopes, the best of those being Gregers, who has done nothing wrong in two runs this time in, both resulting in wins. She looked in trouble last time out at Caulfield, but surged late and proved too good in the last little bit. Big query on her at 1400m, and I think she’ll be better with some cover this time in order to run the journey. If she runs the distance out, she’ll go close.
Big Danger: It was a big pass mark from Commanding Jewel when she savaged the line late near the fence when third to Gregers at Caulfield. She was given a gun ride to win this race last year, and in what looked to be a strong edition. Goes up 2kg from that win, but looks much stronger and imposing now, along with the fact she has a stack of upside.
Roughie: Based on the way she trialled, I thought this could be the best prep Dear Demi produces, and she certainly didn’t deter that though with her outstanding fifth to Gregers at Caulfield. She had no right to finish off the way she did given the race was set up for those on the speed, but she really let down hard and was beautiful through the line. Looking for further, but her class will carry her a long way, as it will with Solicit, who looked strong in a recent jumpout at Flemington.

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Race Six (15:25) : Danehill Stakes 1200m:

Back Me: Brazen Beau was one of the better youngsters during the latter part of the Autumn and into the Winter. He finished off his campaign with a fighting second to Almalad in the J J Atkins after seemingly having the race won 300m out. The eventual winner packed plenty under pressure and just outgunned him late, by I think Brazen Beau is a sprinter hence why he is resuming here, to get a look at the track/distance in readiness for the Coolmore Stud. Trials have been sharp and Pumper has made the trip from Sydney to steer.
Big Danger: Get The Nod was ultra impressive when he resumed with a thumping win in the Vain Stakes, made even more dominant by the fact he sat wide all the way with no cover. Barrier one down the Flemington straight is the concern because it can be a major disadvantage, but he is a very, very good horse who has proven he can overcome adversity and still beat his rivals.
Roughie: Big, big watch on the star filly from Adelaide, Go Indy Go. She was outstanding in the Autumn and proved she was one of the best youngsters going with an outstanding triumph in the Champagne Stakes during the Championships at Randwick. Hasn’t trialled publicly in preparation for this, but the class and the fact she’ll be strong at the end of 1200m brings her right into the mix.

Race Seven (16:00) : Makybe Diva Stakes 1600m:

Back Me: I’m sticking solid with Boban. You have to forgive him for his failure in the Memsie given he was three wide with no cover, and when he doesn’t have something in front of him, he tends to pull his head off and have nothing left for the straight. Despite that, he loomed and sprinted for about 100m, but the tough run told just late and he ground way away for fifth to Dissident. He won the Emirates over the identical path last year and will appreciate the bigger surroundings. If he gets cover and a drag into the race, they won’t hold off his turn of foot. Taking on Dissident big time here, simply because I think people got a bit carried away with his Memsie triumph. Sure, on face value, it was impressive, but he did have the drop on the two leaders and got the perfect cart into the straight, doing no work. Different kettle of fish here.
Big Danger: Many were quick to pot Puissance De Lune after his first up failure in the P.B. Lawrence, but he was also three wide with no cover and was first up from the Cox Plate and coming back from a tendon. He then bounced back to his best form with a closing third in the Memsie after getting the suck run behind the three on speed runners. He saves his best for Flemington and will take some beating, even more so if there is any give in the ground.
Roughie: Keep an eye on Sertorious and what he does here. He was excellent in the Memsie, really surging the last 100m, and ran through the line as well as I’ve seen for a while. I think whatever he runs in over 2000m and beyond, he’ll be ultra competitive in, but he is another who races quite well at Flemington and will relish the rise to 1600m and you know he’ll be very strong at the end.

Race Eight (16:40) : Bobbie Lewis Quality 1200m:

Back Me: Very keen on El Roca here. He has had a few hiccups this Spring, with little niggles here and there, but he looks over them based on how sharp he looked in a recent jumpout here, winning and winning with plenty in reserve. He comfortably beat Dissident first up last time in and both of these horses have gone on to bigger and better things, so that form reads pretty well here, along with the fact he is drawn around early speed, so he should get the beaut sit.
Big Danger: The old warrior Temple Of Boom has to go in as a serious threat here. At the start of the Autumn, he was just okay without being anything great, but a change of riding tactics saw sharp improvement, and he caused a boilover in the Victory before running three ripping races at Group l level. Another who hasn’t trialled publicly, but he loves the straight six and Tegan Harrison makes the trek from Brisbane to ride.
Roughie: Flamberge was given a gun ride by Vlad Duric to win first up at Caulfield in Theshark.com.au Stakes, beating home a pretty good field. His form from the Autumn was excellent, with a couple of fifth’s to Lankan Rupee at Group l level, so considering that, he looks very well placed here, especially with the run under his belt.

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Race Nine (17:15) : The Sofitel 1400m:

Back Me: Putting Rhythm To Spare on top. He had an unsuccessful trip to Sydney in the Autumn, then came back here and won over the mile before going to Morphettville and picking up a Group lll during their carnival in really dominant fashion, and that confidence has been brought back based on strong he jumped out at Flemington last week. Good record fresh and he does find a nice race to resume in.
Big Danger: Our Hand Of Faith resumed at the Valley three weeks back and he had absolutely no luck in what was a really messy race and finish. He ran fourth, beaten over a half length. His two Flemington runs have resulted in a second to Foundry and a fourth to Mouro, and tying in with the fact he has a strong second up record, along with drawing a good gate, he’ll prove hard to beat.
Roughie: By The Grace trialled very sharply prior to his first up run at Caulfield behind Late Charge. He looked to travel sweetly in the run, and as they straightened, he looked the horse to beat, but the leaders kicked hard thanks to a couple of cheap sectionals and this horse probably just gave out in condition late. Fitter, down on the minimum and drawn to get a lovely trail.

Best Bet: Race Three Number 7 Signoff

Next Best: Race Eight Number 5 El Roca

Best Roughie: Race Two Number 6 Trade Commissioner

Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg Two: 3, 6, 8

Leg Three: 1, 2, 3, 5, 15

Leg Four: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18

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