Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare will lead the field out for the 2020 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday.

A field of sixteen is set to do battle over the Flemington 1600m to fight for a share of the $750,000 purse that is on offer.

Seven-year-old war horse Gatting is trying to make it back to back wins in the Makybe Diva Stakes under new trainer Peter Moody while Vow And Declare will have two Danny O’Brien trained stablemates, Russian Camelot and Miami Bound, to keep him company.

We have analysed the entire Group 1 weight for age field and our complete 2020 Makybe Diva Stakes tips can be found below!

Vow And Declare

Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare is set to kick off his 2020 Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign in the Makybe Diva Stakes but might find the 1600m too short.

Vow And Declare has no first up winning form and is yet to win at distances below 1800m and will be better suited later on in his preparation over the longer journeys.

Gailo Chop

Veteran galloper Gailo Chop hasn’t saluted since winning the 2018 Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

The injury plagued ten year old’s best recent effort was during the 2019 Perth Summer Carnival when runner up to Kay Cee Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth.

Gailo Chop was spelled after failing to beat runner home in the twelve-horse Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day Two of The Championships during the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival and he could struggle against the younger brigade here.

Harlem

Nine year old Harlem is another veteran who hasn’t found the winner’s stall for a very long time.

Harlem is a dual winner of the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington but hasn’t saluted since claiming his second win there in 2019.

The Lindsay Park trained gelding has the benefit of one run back from a break but is yet to win at distances below 2000m.

Fierce Impact

Fierce Impact is a Group 1 winner over the same course and distance as the Makybe Diva Stakes with his win in the Kennedy Cantala Stakes during the 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival and has claims here.

Fierce Impact has the benefit of one run back from a spell for a third in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22 and has since won a 1200m Gosford barrier trial and has to come under serious consideration.

Gatting

Gatting is chasing back to back Makybe Diva Stakes wins for new trainer Peter Moody who also won the race with Dissident in 2014.

Gatting is another veteran who is struggling to regain his best form and the seven year old failed to beat a runner home when a first up thirteenth in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.

Has to improve sharply to be a threat here.

Levendi

The injury plagued Levendi has only been to the races on three occasions since winning the 2018 Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

Two of those times was during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with two unplaced efforts and he will be facing the stater for the first time since finishing eighth in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield in February. Facing a tough first up assignment here.

Kings Will Dream

Kings Will Dream is a proven Group 1 performer and was runner up in the 2018 Makybe Diva Stakes behind Grunt.

The 2019 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner produced an eye-catching first up run when third in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15 and will strip as one of the main chances here.

So Si Bon

So Si Bon is yet to win at the top level but has been Group 1 placed on three occasions and has each way claims here.

So Si Bon has had two runs back from a break and is very fit going into the Makybe Diva Stakes coming off a fifth in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.

Master Of Wine

Master Of Wine made some impression during the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival when fourth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Day Two of The Championships.

Master Of Wine has had one run back from a spell but never threatened when twelfth in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22. Might have to wait until further into the Spring before we see the best of him.

Warning

Last year’s Victoria Derby winner Warning failed to win race during the 2020 Autumn Carnival.

Warning is resuming for his 2020 Spring Carnival campaign in the Makybe Diva Stakes at his first run since finishing third in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in May.

Warning is yet to win first up and hasn’t won at distances below 1800m.

Dalasan

Adelaide star Dalasan has been placed at his two runs this campaign on his home track with a first up second in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m) on the main Morphettville track on August 15 followed by a third in Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) on the Morphettville Park track two weeks later.

Facing a lot tougher opposition in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Quick Thinker

Kiwi galloper Quick Thinker was the winner of the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick during the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival  and while he will be better suited over more ground later on his Spring Carnival campaign, he could find the 1600m of the Makybe Diva Stakes to his liking while fresh.

Quick Thinker will be having his first start since finishing fifth in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick at the end of the Autumn Carnival.

Russian Camelot

The lightly raced Russian Camelot was the winner of the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville during the 2020 Adelaide Autumn Carnival at only his fifth race start.

The four year old will be tackling weight for age for the first time in the Makybe Diva Stakes and is another who will be better placed over the longer journeys later in the Spring.

Perfect Jewel

Perfect Jewel was a handy first up winner in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 29 but will find this opposition much tougher.

Princess Jenni

Princess Jenni was the winner of the 2019 Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville during the Adelaide Autumn Carnival.

The now five year old mare has had one run back from a spell but failed to threaten when eighth in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29 and is no easier here.

Miami Bound

Miami Bound was the winner of the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival but was unplaced at two runs during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.

Miami Bound is up sharply in class following her first up fourth in a 1523m Handicap at The Valley on August 22.

Makybe Diva Stakes Tip

14 Perfect Jewel at $6.00