Flemington Racecourse is host to the second Group 1 race meeting of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival today – Makybe Diva Stakes Day 2016 – the full scratchings and track report for which are detailed below.

It is cloudy in Melbourne today with only a slight chance of late afternoon showers meaning the current Soft (5) rating of the course proper at Flemington is set to stay for the day.

Flemington Track Report – 10/09/2016

• Rail: True Entire Circuit
• Penetrometer: 4.88
• Track Rating: Soft (5)
• Weather: Overcast
• Track Type: Turf
• Irrigation: Nil last 24 hrs; 12mm last 7 days
• Rainfall: 13.2mm last 24hrs; 13.8mm last 7 days

Racing kicks off at Flemington this afternoon at 12:25pm (AEST) and continues through until the nine-race card closer jumps at 5:25pm (AEST).

Four Group races headline the Melbourne racing action including the meeting’s marquee race – the $500,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) running as Flemington Race 7 and still featuring all 13 original starters.

Check out the full Flemington race scratchings and race previews below before backing your Makybe Diva Stakes Day tips online at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Flemington Scratchings – 10/09/2016

Total Scratchings: 11

Race 1 (12:25pm) – $90,000 Sofitel Girls’ Day Out Handicap (2500m)

• #1 Almandin (11)

The scratching of the top weight from the card opener leaves 12 in the mix including a host coming off gun lead-up form such as O’Lonera ($3.70) – the favourite shooting for four wins on the trot. Dunn in the saddle here has serious claims from barrier one, but value in the likes of perennial placegetter Black Tomahawk ($4.20) who’ll get the run of the race from gate four with Craig Williams aboard.

Race 2 (1:00pm) – $120,000 Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m)

• #11 Want To Rock (1)

The rails-drawn Want To Rock comes out of the day’s first Black-Type, but still a bumper 18 three-year-old fillies in the mix after the stakes’ win. Only a few at single-figures with early money on Missrock ($5.50) who is first-up after winning a Group 3 at Randwick during ‘The Championships’. She’ll be on pace and is undefeated first-up, but My Country ($5.50) out wide looks a big danger.

Race 3 (1:35pm) – $120,000 Listed Starlight Express Room Stakes (1400m)

• #1 Good Standing (4)
• #14 Smart As You Think (14)

A dozen three-year-olds with the potential to see out a mile later this campaign remain in this set weights plus penalties clash where the favourite Seaburge ($5.50) is a winning chance, but faces some genuine quality rivals. Market mover is Tessera ($6), but at $10 Detective looks set to go all-the-way up front on the back of a win at Wyong a fortnight ago.

Race 4 (2:15pm) – $120,000 Listed The Sofitel (1400m)

• #14 Cool Chap (7)
• #15 Grande Rosso (9)

Two come out of this stakes showdown leaving 13 runners, markets led by market mover Tashbeeh ($4) who will relish the drop back in class after a fourth to Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m). Next best fancied are Ulmann ($6.50) coming off a forgivable run in Adelaide and the ultra-consistent Prince OF Brooklyn (4.60) who doesn’t know how to run a bad race.

Race 5 (2:50pm) – $200,000 Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m)

• No current scratchings

The meeting’s first Group showdown features a dozen three-year-old sprinters heading towards a Grand Final in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. Field and markets are led by the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained HDF McNeil Stakes winner Defcon ($3.80), but if he gets caught up from the inside alley Highland Beat ($9.50) is a chance to turn the tables, while the Kiwi Saracino ($6.50) also can’t be ruled out with Damien Oliver aboard from gate five.

Read our full 2016 Danehill Stakes Betting Tips & Preview.

Race 6 (3:30pm) – $200,000 Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m)

• No current scratchings

Group racing down the straight continues with another 12-starter field, the older runners engaged in this including Robert Smerdon’s Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre ($4.80) coming off an excellent first-up second at Caulfield. Danger in the New Zealand raider Xtravagant ($6), while money is coming for The Monstar ($13) off his good lead-up form in Brisbane. Straight track specialist Durendal ($21) looks way overs.

Read our full 2016 Bobbie Lewis Quality Betting Tips & Preview.

Race 7 (4:10pm) – $500,000 Group 1 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)

• No current scratchings

The day’s feature race has 13 weight-for-age hopefuls ready to do battle over the Flemington mile including the clear favourite Black Heart Bart ($2.40) coming off the Memsie Stakes victory. Mile challenge here for him, but D. Oliver aboard will help. Market mover is his stablemate Palentino ($6) with Group 1 winning form at the track / distance in the autumn, while Memsie Stakes runner-up Rising Romance ($8.50) and her stablemate He Or She ($19) have place claims.

Read our full 2016 Makybe Diva Stakes Betting Tips & Preview.

Race 8 (4:50pm) – $200,000 Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m)

• #13 Miss Softhands (17)
• #16 Niminypiminy (14)
• #17e Cana (5)

The older mares face off in this set weights plus penalties showdown that can serve as a Myer Classic guide later in the season. Don’t Doubt Mamma ($6) is well fancied second-up, but will be working to stay out of trouble from barrier one. Group 2 winner at the track / distance Badawiya ($6.50) resumes, but plenty of livewire hopes at juicy odds including Thames Court ($9.50) and even the returning Manageress ($21).

Read our full 2016 Let’s Elope Stakes Betting Tips & Preview.

Race 9 (5:25pm) – $90,000 Spring Is The Season Handicap (1700m)

• #14 Pinstripe Lane (1)
• #15 Mr Wonderful (14)

Final race on the program is down to 14 starters with the widely-drawn Pilote D’Essai ($2.80) showing top form in the lead-up and only needs to make the step-up to Saturday racing on a big day like this. Tally ($9) for John O’Shea is second-up, the ATC Derby winner out to atone for a dead last in the Memsie Stakes that he can do in easier company, while Royal Rapture ($5) shoots for four straight wins but is up there weight-wise with 59kg.

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change