Via Sistina

Via Sistina Heads Betting on Star-Studded Makybe Diva Stakes 2024 Field

Lucy Henderson September 11, 2024

Via Sistina Heads Betting on Star-Studded Makybe Diva Stakes 2024 Field

The Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina is favourite in a small but top-class final field of eight to win her Melbourne debut second-up on Saturday in Flemington‘s 2024 Makybe Diva Stakes.

Via Sistina

Via Sistina is favourite to win the 2024 Makybe Diva Stakes in Melbourne this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) is the first Group 1 of the season over a mile and has drawn a highly competitive field of potential Ladbrokes Cox Plate-bound stars.

Heading the latest Makybe Diva Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $2.10 to post her fourth career Group 1 is Waller’s imported daughter of Fastnet Rock, Via Sistina.

She was a narrow but convincing first-up winner in Sydney over just 1400m claiming the Winx Stakes fresh ahead of this event that sees her race in Melbourne for the first time.

James McDonald rides the Makybe Diva Stakes favourite from the inside alley with the mare sure to relish the 1600m now.

She’ll need to be good however with the likes of last year’s champion Mr Brightside chasing a successful title defense and Ciaron Maher‘s runaway Queen Elizabeth Stakes winning mare Pride Of Jenni looking to atone for her flat first-up performance.

Team Hayes’ stable ace Mr Brightside is second favourite at Makybe Diva Stakes odds to become the race’s first back-to-back champion since Sailor’s Guide right back in 1956-57.

Mr Brightside is out to make history as the first back-to-back Makybe Diva Stakes winner since Sailor's Guide in 1956 & 1957

He jumps from gate four with last year’s winning hoop Craig Williams aboard again as the jockey chases his fifth Makybe Diva Stakes victory in the past 20 years.

First-up Mr Brightside was a solid second in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) narrowly beaten by Pinstriped at Caulfield, and he will take the power of beating now with that run behind him.

Pride Of Jenni was favourite in that race and led the early stages before fading to finish over five lengths back fifth seemingly without excuses.

Plenty of attention will be on her now second-up with her spring campaign to be decided based on what she does from barrier seven as a $6 shot in the markets.

After handing his trainer Enver Jusufovic a maiden Group 1 win in the Memsie, Pinstriped is also in the mix at $8 to salute again and emulate Mr Brightside (2023) in completing the Memsie Stakes – Makybe Diva Stakes double.

The 2024 Makybe Diva Stakes is set to run as Flemington Race 8 at 4:20pm (AEST) on Saturday’s 10-race card.

Click here for the latest markets from Ladbrokes.com.au.

2024 Makybe Diva Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

NoLast 10HorseTrainerJockeyBarrierWeightProbable WeightPenaltyHcp Rating
122x11253x2MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ)Ben, Will & JD HayesCraig Williams459kg  118
221500x0x21PINSTRIPEDEnver JusufovicBen Allen859kg  112
32343x4411xCIRCLE OF FIRE (GB)Ciaron MaherMark Zahra259kg  108
41220x160x4ANTINO (NZ)Tony GollanBlake Shinn659kg  108
5116x62521xWARMONGER (NZ)Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)Michael Dee358.5kg  106
6611x2121x5PRIDE OF JENNICiaron MaherDeclan Bates757kg  122
7021x8132x9ATISHU (NZ)Chris WallerDamian Lane557kg  114
8132x2x12x1VIA SISTINA (IRE)Chris WallerJames McDonald157kg  118

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

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