Makybe Diva Stakes

The Makybe Diva Stakes is a Group 1 mile event run at Flemington Racecourse in mid-September as a lead-up to the longer-distanced races of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Results

  • 1st: #1 Mr Brightside
  • 2nd: #2 Alligator Blood
  • 3rd: #6 Osipenko



The 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes is the second Group 1 race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Run at Flemington Racecourse in early – mid September, the 1600m weight-for-age event attracts a star-studded line-up of milers and staying types. Currently offering $750,000 in prize money, the event is definitely one of the more exciting early spring features having been upgraded from Group 2 to elite level in 2013.

The Makybe Diva Stakes, named after the legendary three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, is the perfect lead-up race to the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) held at Caulfield two weeks later and the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) held at Flemington a month later. Incentivise (2021) is the last horse to complete the Makybe Diva Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double.

Formerly known as the Craiglee Stakes the current name was installed in 2007 and it is considered a major early feature on the spring line-up.

The form of the 2021 Makybe Diva Stakes was franked with the winner Incentivise going on to complete the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes – Caulfield Cup double at his next two starts before a second to Verry Elleegant in that year’s Melbourne Cup results.

The 2022 Makybe Diva Stakes form was franked with the winner I’m Thunderstruck going on to run top three in a host of subsequent Group 1 races including his second in that year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate. The runner-up Alligator Blood further franked the form saluting in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes next start along with the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at Flemington that Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Sadly, I’m Thunderstruck would go on to be euthanised in March of 2023 following arthroscopic fetlock surgery. He suffered a catastrophic knee injury whilst getting up after general anaesthetic.

The 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes ran on Saturday September 16, 2023 as the second Group 1 race of the new season in Melbourne following the Memsie Stakes earlier in the month and saw the brilliant Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained mile marvel Mr Brightside ($1.85F) complete the double for the first time since Dissident (2014).

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes
Date: Saturday September 16, 2023
Track: Flemington Racecourse
Distance: 1600m
Race Type: Weight-For-Age
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $750,000

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Results

  • 1st: #1 Mr Brightside ($1.85F)
  • 2nd: #2 Alligator Blood
  • 3rd: #6 Osipenko

The talented King Charles III Stakes and Cox Plate-bound weight-for-age star Mr Brightside ($1.85F) posted his fifth win on the trot with an all-too-easy victory as the odds-on favourite in the Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 results defeating last year’s runner-up Alligator Blood by 1.5 lengths.

Click here to read more on the bullish 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes win by the odds-on favourite Mr Brightside.

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 1 MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 2 59kg $1.85F
2 2 ALLIGATOR BLOOD Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Damien Oliver 1.5L 4 59kg $3.60
3 6 OSIPENKO (NZ) Chris Waller Mark Zahra 1.9L 1 58.5kg $15
4 7 PRINCESS GRACE (USA) Chris Waller Blake Shinn 2.65L 7 57kg $5.50
5 5 FRANCESCO GUARDI (IRE) Chris Waller Damian Lane 3.4L 3 59kg $31
6 4 AEGON (NZ) Andrew Forsman Michael Dee 5.4L 5 59kg $31
7 3 SPANISH MISSION (USA) Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Luke Nolen 9.4L 6 59kg $81

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Betting Odds

The season’s best spring racing odds on the Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 along with links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided for punters below as soon as released.

Fierce Impact ($4 in 2020) and Mr Brightside ($1.85 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Makybe Diva Stakes betting to win.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 MAKYBE DIVA STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Form Guide

A complete Makybe Diva Stakes Form Guide for 2023 will be available post-final acceptances online through leading bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 MAKYBE DIVA STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 Tips on the mile showdown this spring racing season.

  • To Win: #1 Mr Brightside ($2 at time of publish) – BET NOW

The form horse of the season so far is Mr Brightside who is a hard to beat favourite here at a deservingly short $2 quote at time of publish. He chases his fifth win on the trot having won back-to-back races either side of a spell. This prep fresh he was strong in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes before a last start Group 1 Memsie Stakes victory at Caulfield over 1400m. Step-up to a mile third-up looks ideal for the Team Hayes-trained six-year-old who has a stellar 1600m record (13:9-0-1) including victories in the $5 million All-Star Mile and Group 1 Doncaster Mile. P.B. Lawrence runner-up Pinstriped won the Group 2 Feehan Stakes last weekend beating Attrition who was fifth in the same lead-up won by Mr Brightside whose turn it now is to continue to frank that form here.

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Field

The Makybe Diva Stakes field attracts a host of early spring stars chasing an early Group 1 season win. Many gallopers come into the Makybe Diva Stakes field via a lead-up run over 1400m at Caulfield a fortnight earlier in the Memsie Stakes and the double was most recently completed by Dissident (2014) and Mr Brightside (2023).

The 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes final field features a diminutive but quality field of weight-for-age stars led by last start Memsie Stakes hero Mr Brightside chasing a fifth win on the trot.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 73x5211x11 MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 2 59kg 117
2 1551x140x4 ALLIGATOR BLOOD Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Damien Oliver 4 59kg 116
3 x34x339x3x SPANISH MISSION (USA) Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Luke Nolen 6 59kg 113
4 42x6495x39 AEGON (NZ) Andrew Forsman Michael Dee 5 59kg 105
5 11232821×0 FRANCESCO GUARDI (IRE) Chris Waller Damian Lane 3 59kg 106
6 3x51761x57 OSIPENKO (NZ) Chris Waller Mark Zahra 1 58.5kg 105
7 1223x31x22 PRINCESS GRACE (USA) Chris Waller Blake Shinn 7 57kg 112

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Nominations

The 2023 Makybe Diva nominations close on the Monday of race week and will be available here once the early entries are taken.

The Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 nominations attracted 15 weight-for-age spring hopefuls led in all-in betting by the flying Mr Brightside coming off victories in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes and Group 1 Memsie Stakes this prep.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 73x5211x11 MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) G 6 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 1 59kg 117
2 3341x217x3 ZAAKI (GB) G 9 Annabel Neasham 2 59kg 117
3 1551x140x4 ALLIGATOR BLOOD G 7 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 3 59kg 116
4 562x3227x1 FANGIRL M 5 Chris Waller 4 57kg 114
5 x34x339x3x SPANISH MISSION (USA) H 8 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 5 59kg 113
6 1223x31x22 PRINCESS GRACE (USA) M 7 Chris Waller 6 57kg 112
7 1x1211x12x AMELIA’S JEWEL M 4 Simon A Miller 7 56.5kg 111
8 13x121x0x9 GOING GLOBAL (IRE) M 6 Chris Waller 8 57kg 110
9 58x26844x4 HINGED M 5 Chris Waller 9 57kg 109
10 x16x6026x6 MY OBERON (IRE) G 7 Annabel Neasham 10 59kg 109
11 2x51210x04 LINDERMANN H 4 Chris Waller 11 58.5kg 106
12 11232821×0 FRANCESCO GUARDI (IRE) G 6 Chris Waller 12 59kg 106
13 3x51761x57 OSIPENKO (NZ) H 4 Chris Waller 13 58.5kg 105
14 52x131x8x0 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) H 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 14 59kg 105
15 42x6495x39 AEGON (NZ) G 6 Andrew Forsman 15 59kg 105

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Makybe Diva Stakes History

First run in 1948 and won by Lungi, the Makybe Diva Stakes was originally titled the Craiglee Stakes until 2007. Raced over a 10 Furlong (2000m) track until 1964, the new distance ensures that all horses get a good run on the straight of Flemington. Double winners of the event include Chicquita in 1950-51 and Sailor’s Guide in 1956-57.

After his win in 2002, Northerly also went on to win the WS Cox Plate and Sky Heights managed to win the Caulfield Cup and Craiglee Stakes double in 1999. The fastest winning time was recorded by Jeune in 1995 with 1 minute 35 seconds. The slowest time was recorded by Fine Offer in 1985 with 1 minute 44.3 seconds.

The Makybe Diva Stakes was upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1 status in 2013. In 2015 Fawkner won the Makybe Diva Stakes and backed-up to finish second in the Underwood Stakes next start.

In 2019 the Makybe Diva Stakes was won in a historical blowout with Gatting scoring an upset at 100/1. Sadly the following year Gatting broke down during his title defence and was subsequently euthanised.

Recent Makybe Diva Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Mr Brightside 1 minute 37.44 seconds
2nd Alligator Blood
3rd Osipenko
2022
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st I’m Thunderstruck 1 minute 37.82 seconds
2nd Alligator Blood
3rd Mo’unga
2021
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Incentivise 1 minute 36.63 seconds
2nd Mo’unga
3rd Sir Dragonet
2020
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Fierce Impact 1 minute 36.33 seconds
2nd Russian Camelot
3rd So Si Bon
2019
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Gatting 1 minute 33.97 seconds
2nd Mystic Journey
3rd Mr Quickie
2018
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Grunt 1 minute 34.91 seconds
2nd Kings Will Dream
3rd Jon Snow
2017
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Humidor 1 minute 35.35 seconds
2nd Hartnell
3rd Black Heart Bart
2016
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Palentino 1 minute 36.2 seconds
2nd Black Heart Bart
3rd He Or She
2015
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Fawkner 1 minute 37.96 seconds
2nd Rising Romance
3rd Entirely Platinum
2014
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Dissident 1 minute 36.29 seconds
2nd Fawkner
3rd Puissance De Lune
2013
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Foreteller 1 minute 37.0 seconds
2nd Puissance De Lune
3rd Moudre
2012
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Southern Speed 1 minute 37.8 seconds
2nd Manighar
3rd Moudre
2011
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Littorio 1 minute 37.8 seconds
2nd Glass Harmonium
3rd Midas Touch
2010
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Shocking 1 minute 41.7 seconds
2nd Heart Of Dreams
3rd Vigor
2009
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Vigor 1 minute 35.8 seconds
2nd Typhoon Tracy
3rd Master O’Reilly
2008
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Weekend Hussler 1 minute 38.6 seconds
2nd Zarita
3rd Littorio
2007
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Marasco 1 minute 36.7 seconds
2nd Apache Cat
3rd Zipping
2006
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Pompeii Ruler 1 minute 38.5 seconds
2nd Sphenophyta
3rd Zipping
2005
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Confectioner 1 minute 35.8 seconds
2nd Free At Last
3rd Our Smoking Joe
2004
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Hugs Dancer 1 minute 38.2 seconds
2nd Elvstroem
3rd Zagalia
2003
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Pentastic 1 minute 37.2 seconds
2nd Walk On Air
3rd Mummify
2002
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Northerly 1 minute 37.9 seconds
2nd Le Zagaletta
3rd Silver Baron
2001
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Native Jazz 1 minute 37.4 seconds
2nd Aka Bilk
3rd Universal Prince
2000
Makybe Diva Stakes
1st Go Flash Go 1 minute 42.1 seconds
2nd Oliver Twist
3rd Showella

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