Makybe Diva Stakes

The Makybe Diva Stakes is a Group 1 event raced under weight-for-age conditions each year in September at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne. The race is run over a distance of 1600 metres and worth $750,000 in prizemoney. The 2018 Makybe Diva Stakes was won by Grunt from Kings Will Dream with Jon Snow third.

Formerly known as the Craiglee Stakes, the race was changed to the Makybe Diva Stakes in 2007 in honour of champion mare and three time Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva, and was upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1 status for the 2013/2014 racing season.

The Makybe Diva Stakes generally attracts quality gallopers and the race itself signals the beginning of better middle distance races to come during the Melbourne spring racing carnival.

Being over 1600 metres, the race distance can suit a solid sprinter or an up and coming stayer, and the roomy Flemington track with it's long straight gives all types of horses a chance, whether they race on the pace or come from behind.

The Makybe Diva Stakes is the first group race over a mile for the new Victorian racing season and provides the ideal lead up race for the upcoming Gr1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield and the Gr1 Turnbull Stakes the following month at Flemington.

In recent times the race has been a handy guide to future big race performers and is a race that sees classy performers go around year after year. Other group races on Makybe Diva Stakes Day include the Gr2 Danehill Stakes, Gr2 Let's Elope Stakes and Gr3 Bobbie Lewis Quality.

Grunt (2018) ran sixth in the Gr1 Memsie Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield before scoring an impressive victory in this event for the Mick Price stable.

Recent Makybe Diva Stakes winners include Humidor (2017) and Palentino (2016).

Spring Carnival Guide

The Makybe Diva Stakes is always a good guide to future big race winners during the spring and jon Snow (8th in 2017) managed to win the Gr3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley at his next start.

Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart (2nd in 2016) won the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield after running second in this race, while He Or She (3rd in 2016) ran second to Black Heart Bart in that race.

Foreteller (2013) finish runner-up in the Gr1 Caulfield Stakes after tasting success in this event.

Glass Harmonium (2nd in 2011) managed to finish second in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington before winning the Gr1 Mackinnon Stakes at the same track, while Midas Touch (3rd in 2011) went on to run third in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

Shocking (2010) ran second in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington before returning in the autumn to win the Gr1 Australian Cup at the same track, while Monaco Consul (7th in 2010) finished runner-up in the Gr1 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield the following month.

Typhoon Tracy (2nd in 2009) took out the Gr2 Tristarc Stakes on Caulfield Cup day before scoring a brilliant win in the Gr1 Myer Classic on Derby day at Flemington.

2018 Makybe Diva Stakes result

1. $12.00 Grunt 58.5 Damien Oliver
2. $5.00 Kings Will Dream 59.0 John Allen
3. $31.00 Jon Snow 59.0 Stephen Baster

then followed
4. $3.70 Kementari 58.5 Craig Williams
5. $8.00 Happy Clapper 59.0 Mark Zahra
6. $8.00 Comin' Through 59.0 Michael Walker
7. $6.00 Humidor 59.0 Damian Lane
8. $19.00 Black Heart Bart 59.0 Brad Rawiller
9. $19.00 The Taj Mahal 59.0 Ben Melham
10. $81.00 Harlem 59.0 Regan Bayliss
11. $61.00 Tosen Basil 59.0 Jordan Childs
12. $101.00 Pounamu 59.0 Brett Prebble

Margins: 2 len, 0.5 len
Time: 1:34.91

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Makybe Diva Stakes winners & placegetters