Wonder mare Mystic Journey will face 14 rivals from barrier 10 in the Makybe Diva Stakes 2019 field at Flemington on Saturday as she looks to continue her winning streak ahead of a Ladbrokes Cox Plate bid next month.
Memsie Stakes winner Scales Of Justice is a big danger in the 2019 Makybe Diva Stakes field on Saturday at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Adam Trinder’s Australian Guineas / All-Star Mile winner at the track and distance during the autumn is the current $2.20 top elect at Ladbrokes.com.au to continue her ace Flemington mile record second-up in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
She chases win number eight on the trot following her resuming win in Caulfield’s Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and has been kept fresh since with Trinder opting to bypass the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).
Two other runners are under double-figures in the latest Makybe Diva Stakes odds for the weekend to score the upset with in-form market mover Scales Of Justice ($6 into $5) and the Liam Howley-trained Yucatan ($9) considered the dangers.
Lindsey Smith’s Not A Single Doubt seven-year-old Scales Of Justice has won two of his three latest runs including taking out the Memsie Stakes on August 31.
Stepping up to 1600m is a non-issue for the evergreen veteran whose mile record stands at three wins from four runs, including the 2016 Railway Stakes at elite level.
Team Williams’ Galileo stallion Yucatan is the unknown in the race, the lightly-raced six-year-old import having his 15th career run and first-up start since an 11th in last year’s Melbourne Cup results.
Definitely will improve on whatever he does here, but the talented stayer could surprise is the bookies’ thoughts here.
Godolphin stalwart Hartnell is never far away in betting and lines-up as a $12 shot on Saturday from barrier 11 with Craig Williams aboard on the back of a P.B. Lawrence third and Memsie Stakes fourth from the grand campaigner.
Other notable Memsie Stakes rivals for Mystic Journey to defeat as she tracks towards the $5 million Cox Plate at The Valley on October 26 include the Chris Waller-trained Kings Will Dream ($17) who ran second in the race last year and returning Queensland Derby winner Mr Quickie ($26).
The Makybe Diva Stakes 2019 is set to run as Flemington Race 7 at 4:10pm (AEST) on Saturday afternoon.
Click here for the latest market order on the race.
2019 Makybe Diva Stakes Field & Barriers
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0x53233x34 | HARTNELL (GB) | James Cummings | Craig Williams | 11 | 59kg | 116 |
| 2 | 50x112142x | GAILO CHOP (FR) | Matthew Williams | Ms Linda Meech | 6 | 59kg | 115 |
| 3 | 4x817333x0 | HUMIDOR (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Damian Lane | 14 | 59kg | 115 |
| 4 | 730x53x121 | SCALES OF JUSTICE | Lindsey Smith | Dean Yendall | 9 | 59kg | 114 |
| 5 | 192251557x | ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Dwayne Dunn | 13 | 59kg | 110 |
| 6 | 2425×51225 | GATTING | Darren Mcauliffe | Jamie Kah | 8 | 59kg | 108 |
| 7 | 1x43236Px5 | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | Chris Waller | Mark Zahra | 5 | 59kg | 105 |
| 8 | 1x60110x67 | FIFTY STARS (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Ben Allen | 3 | 59kg | 109 |
| 9 | 436013x10x | YUCATAN (IRE) | Liam Howley | Ben Melham | 2 | 59kg | 108 |
| 10 | 60x34000x5 | NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damien Oliver | 15 | 59kg | 103 |
| 11 | 32x00x048x | SOUND (GER) | Michael Moroney | Jamie Mott | 1 | 59kg | 105 |
| 12 | 11x112131x | MR QUICKIE | Phillip Stokes | John Allen | 12 | 58.5kg | 105 |
| 13 | 511x1111x1 | MYSTIC JOURNEY | Adam Trinder | Anthony Darmanin | 10 | 56.5kg | 116 |
| 14 | 4130x08x77 | OOHOOD | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Michael Dee | 4 | 56.5kg | 103 |
| 15 | 25x14941x2 | QAFILA | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Luke Nolen | 7 | 56.5kg | 102 |
