Group 1 racing continues in Melbourne this Saturday with the running of the Makybe Diva Stakes!
What this field lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in class, and the likes of Mr Brightside, Alligator Blood and Princess Grace will chase glory at HQ on Saturday.
You can find my full preview and 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Tips below!
Makybe Diva Stakes – Winner
Mr Brightside’s form this time has been faultless, but I am expecting big improvement from The Gator, and a mile at Flemington is absolutely his pet trip.
The multiple Group 1 winner was outstanding during last year’s Spring Carnival, adding the Underwood Stakes and the Champions Mile to his CV, while he returned in autumn to strike in the Futurity Stakes most notably.
Clearly, he needed his first run back in the Memsie a couple of weeks ago to dust off the cobwebs, but this is a completely different prospect and he did finish within a length of the winner, while Damien Oliver can take him straight to the lead this week from barrier 4.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Alligator Blood
Makybe Diva Stakes – 2nd
American mare Princess Grace has been excellent in her two starts back from a break, and I’m really looking forward to seeing her third-up, out to a mile and at Flemington for the first time in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
Princess Grace is yet to miss placing in four starts since arriving in Australia, winning the Hawkesbury Gold Crown notably at the end of her autumn prep, while running second in both the Winx Stakes and the Memsie this time in.
She strips fitter into this race and takes weight from her rivals as the Makybe Diva Stakes field’s sole mare.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Princess Grace
Makybe Diva Stakes – 3rd
He’s done absolutely nothing wrong, I just think that Alligator Blood and Princess Grace have more upset ahead of the Makybe Diva Stakes than Mr Brightside does.
He first realised his Group 1 potential during the 2022 Autumn Carnival, winning the Doncaster Mile, but there is no doubt that Mr Brightside went to another level in the autumn of this year, adding the All-Star Mile before a successful defence of the Donny.
He won the PB Lawrence before repeating the dose in the Memsie last time out, and regular hoop Craig Williams will give him every chance again this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Mr Brightside
Makybe Diva Stakes – 4th
He was rather disappointing in the Memsie Stakes last time out, but I am happy to five Aegon another chance getting out to the mile this week.
The Kiwi Group 1 winner has obviously been a great horse for the Forsman yard throughout his career, and he has found form around some of Australasia’s best middle-distance horses during the last few years.
He’s a multiple winner at this distance, and he’s the one that I think could cause the top elects listed above a few headaches.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Aegon
