Darren Weir’s last start Memsie Stakes winner Black Heart Bart headlines the nominations for the Group 1 feature in Melbourne this weekend – Flemington’s Makybe Diva Stakes 2016.

Memsie Stakes winner Black Heart Bart chases another Melbourne Group 1 spring win in the 2016 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington this Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A total of 14 early entries were received by Racing Victoria on Monday for this season’s $500,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

Nominations for the weight-for-age mile showdown have been extended until 10:00am (AEST) on Tuesday.

Of the current nominees one of the sure to be favourites in Makybe Diva Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is former Perth galloper Black Heart Bart.

Now prepared by Melbourne Cup winning horseman Weir, the six-year-old son of Blackfriars chases back-to-back Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Group 1 wins.

First-up he enjoyed a 1.25 length victory at Caulfield in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and gets out over 200m further this weekend after a double last completed by Dissident (2014).

Weir has a total of three Makybe Diva Stakes nominations with Black Heart Bart joined by stablemates Palentino and Prince Of Penzance.

Four-year-old Teofilo stallion Palentino is best known for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) win over the Makybe Diva Stakes track and distance in March.

He comes off a fifth in the Memsie Stakes beaten just under five lengths and is third-up on Saturday seeking the mile for the first time since his Guineas success as a three-year-old in the autumn.

Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance should also improve off his unplaced 11^th in the Memsie Stakes first-up, the proven stayer boasting a strong mile record of two wins and a second from four runs.

He hasn’t won a race since the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles at Flemington last November and returns to the track for the first time since his victory in the ‘race that stops a nation’.

In the Memsie Stakes Black Heart Bart beat home Rising Romance, the David & Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained mare also nominated for the rematch on Saturday.

Last spring the talented daughter of Ekraar ran second to Fawkner (2015) in the Makybe Diva Stakes off a sixth in the Memsie, the now six-year-old in better form this season.

She hasn’t won a race since February last year, but has plenty of Group 1 places over the past two seasons and looks right in the mix on Saturday.

Last year’s Makybe Diva Stakes third-placegetter Entirely Platinum is also nominated for a second shot in the classic this weekend.

Prepared by Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes the Pentire gelding races off a month freshen-up having last been seen crossing third to Miss Rose De Lago in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 13.

Another headline Makybe Diva Stakes entry is the returning Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained Our Ivanhowe.

The German import races for the first time since his victory in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 21 in Brisbane.

That run he beat home Hauraki who franked the form winning last Saturday’s Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) first-up in Sydney.

Our Ivanhowe is on the Spring Cups’ path this season once again after his third to Mongolian Khan in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) last October.

Other headline hopes include Stephen Marsh’s ATC Oaks winning Kiwi-trained mare Sofia Rosa, ATC Derby third placegetter Tally for John O’Shea looking to atone for a Memsie Stakes last (12^th) first-up and Mick Price’s reigning VRC Derby champ Tarzino.

See below for the current Makybe Diva Stakes 2016 nominations, the field and barriers plus exclusive betting odds and offers from Ladbrokes.com.au set for release on Wednesday.

2016 Makybe Diva Stakes Nominations

Flemington Racecourse – 10/09/2016