Leading Caulfield Cup 2011 contender Lights Of Heaven will start one of the shortest-priced favourites of the day at Flemington on Saturday, Peter Moody’s classy mare opening odds-on to win the $300,000 Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Lights Of Heaven is odd-on favourite to win the 2011 Makybe Diva Stakes
The well-bred daughter of Zabeel stormed into the spotlight during her opening preparation last season winning her opening four career starts consecutively.
Her unbeaten streak culminated with an impressive three length victory in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2008m) at Morphettville on March 26.
Lights Of Heaven resumed on August 13 as a four-year-old with a devastatingly close second to the Mark Kavanagh-trained Whobegotyou, favourite to win the 2011 Cox Plate, in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Having been disappointed for a run in the Lawrence, Moody is confident that Lights Of Heaven will step up to the challenge of her Flemington and weight-for-age debut in the 2011 Makybe Diva Stakes, and so too are the punters.
Australia’s premier online bookmaker Luxbet opened betting on the Makybe Diva Stakes today, Lights Of Heaven installed as the clear $1.65 favourite.
Of the past 18 Makybe Diva Stakes winners, 13 have come through the Lawrence Stakes, formerly the called the Liston, adding weight to Lights Of Heaven’s claims.
While there is plenty to like about the mare, punters looking for value in their Flemington race betting this weekend could find just that with an upset Makybe Diva Stakes 2011 result, a number of things working against Lights Of Heaven.
Firstly, as a mare she has history against her and if she wins would become the first mare since Saleous in 1996 to do so.
She would also have to break a 12-year hoodoo for horses carrying a double-digit saddlecloth, Lights Of Heaven No. 16 in the Flemington Race 6 field for Saturday.
While there are signs both good and bad for Lights Of Heaven second-up on Saturday, statistics do work in her favour if Moody proceeds onto the $2.5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) with her on October 15.
Caulfield Cup 2011 betting at Luxbet currently has Lights Of Heaven as the $7 favourite, and the Makybe Diva Stakes is an excellent stepping stone with seven of the last 25 Caulfield Cup winners having come via the race.
Five Melbourne Cup winners in the past quarter-century also used the Makybe Diva Stakes as an early lead-up, the famous $6 million Flemington feature on November 1 also a possibility for Lights Of Heaven.
There are only three other chances in the 16-horse Makybe Diva Stakes field installed at single-figure odds to win through Luxbet:
- #8 Glass Harmonium ($5.50 Luxbet): Michael Moroney’s imported stayer made an impression during the winter finishing in the top three in all four of their Brisbane Winter Carnival starts, including a win in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m). Plenty of interest if they can carry their form down south.
- #4 Maluckyday ($8.50 Luxbet): Runner-up in the Melbourne Cup last year, had a disappointing autumn but if the ground is good, has genuine first-up claims.
- #14 Playing God ($8 Luxbet): Boom Perth galloper, dominated over in WA as a two and three-year-old including their Group 1 win in the Kingston Town Classic in December. Has Flemington form with a third in both the Australian Guineas and Australian Cup during the autumn.
As always there are a plenty of unknowns in the field ready to challenge that could provide great value for Luxbet punters.
Following the top four, there are only two other Makybe Diva Stakes contenders at a quote of under $51 with Gai Waterhouse’s former AJC Oaks winner Once Were Wild ($18) and Lawrence Stakes third placegetter Prince Obama ($21).
Check out the full 2011 Makybe Diva Stakes markets at Luxbet and see if you fancy taking on Lights Of Heaven and Moody by backing one of her many other better priced rivals.
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2011 Makybe Diva Stakes Odds
| # | Horse (Barrier) | Odds* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MASTER O’REILLY (12) | 151.00 |
| 2 | LITTORIO (16) | 51.00 |
| 3 | HARRIS TWEED (11) | 61.00 |
| 4 | MALUCKYDAY (4) | 8.50 |
| 5 | MIDAS TOUCH (5) | 81.00 |
| 6 | ALANDI (10) | 301.00 |
| 7 | AT FIRST SIGHT (14) | 61.00 |
| 8 | GLASS HARMONIUM (6) | 5.50 |
| 9 | GUEST WING (15) | 151.00 |
| 10 | MY BENTLEY (1) | 71.00 |
| 11 | ERUPTIOUS (13) | 151.00 |
| 12 | PRINCE OBAMA (3) | 21.00 |
| 13 | DON CARLOS (8) | 51.00 |
| 14 | PLAYING GOD (9) | 8.00 |
| 15 | ONCE WERE WILD (2) | 18.00 |
| 16 | LIGHTS OF HEAVEN (7) | 1.65 |
*Odds are Fixed Win and subject to change – check the latest at Luxbet
