2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Results

Stay tuned for the official 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes results and finishing order and to see what horses may have the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in sight this spring.

• 1st: #1 Mr Brightside ($5)
• 2nd: #6 Aeliana
• 3rd: #5 Via Sistina

Mr Brightside ($5) made history as the first ever three-time Makybe Diva Stakes champion leading from barrier to box thanks to a gun tactical ride by Craig Williams. The eight-year-old Lindsay Park great ran his rivals ragged in a dominant display to put 1.5 lengths on the line of the Chris Waller trained Aeliana with Cox Plate queen Via Sistina a somewhat disappointing third as the beaten odds-on favourite.

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Makybe Diva Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Makybe Diva Stakes 2025 Tips on the mile showdown this spring racing season.

2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Same Race Multi Tip ($3.25 at time of publish)

• Top 2 – No. 5 Via Sistina
• Top 3 – No. 6 Aeliana
• Top 4 – No. 2 Tom Kitten

VIA SISTINA (2) is the clear standout and short-priced favourite in this field. This record-breaking eight-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock just keeps raising the bar. With her Ladbrokes Cox Plate title defence looming, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her career stats speak volumes—25 starts, countless jaw-dropping performances. She silenced critics with a gutsy fresh run on a bottomless Heavy (10) Randwick track, edging out Aeliana in the Winx Stakes and pushing her Group 1 tally into double digits. While last year’s run in this race didn’t go her way, she’s set to get more favourable conditions this time and looks primed to make amends. Her two subsequent Group 1 Flemington wins in the Turnbull and Champions Stakes—especially that 2.75-length demolition in the latter—prove she’s got the course well and truly covered. With J-Mac sticking from a dream barrier two draw, and despite a mixed second-up record, this champion mare is flying and incredibly hard to oppose.

AELIANA (5) from the same stable was the dominant Australian Derby winner from the autumn and looms as the clear danger, having gone agonisingly close fresh in the Winx Stakes over 1400m. She gave Via Sistina a serious scare that day, running out of her skin and showing just how much she’s matured into a powerful four-year-old mare. Jockey Jason Collett noted she was “a bit fresh and tardy out of the gates,” leaving us wondering—had she jumped cleanly and carried a touch more fitness, could she have turned the tables? No more speculation. Now stepping up to 1600m, she gets her Derby-winning rider Damian Lane back aboard from gate five. Expect her to be sharper, stronger, and ready to make a statement.

TOM KITTEN (6) is finally back and there’s plenty of anticipation around his return. The now five-year-old Godolphin galloper was a late scratching at the gates in the Memsie and has his rescheduled first-up run now. He’ll jump straight into a mile, and it marks his official debut for the Anthony & Sam Freedman stable. This exciting son of Harry Angel made headlines back in March, beating Mr B in the All-Star Mile at this very track and trip. He then wrapped up his prep with a strong third—just 2.5 lengths off Via Sistina—in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. Barrier six is no concern in a small field, and with Ben Melham aboard, everything looks in place for a bold showing. Can he deliver fresh and prove his star credentials from midfield? Time will tell. But at the very least, he shapes as excellent value for a Top 4 finish and could be the sleeper in this lineup.

The season’s best spring racing odds on the Makybe Diva Stakes 2025 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.

Mr Brightside also won in 2024 at $3.50 with Via Sistina that year’s $2.60 favourite running a disappointing fifth over six lengths beaten.

Makybe Diva Stakes News

2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Results: Mr Brightside Wins Again, Beats Aeliana & Via Sistina

• 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Field & Betting: Via Sistina Short Favourite to Beat Five Rivals
• 2025 Memsie Stakes Winner is Treasurethe Moment Fresh Over Mr Brightside
• 2025 Winx Stakes Results: Via Sistina Beats Aeliana, Arapaho Third
• 2024 Makybe Diva Stakes Results: Mr Brightside Reels In Pride Of Jenni
• Via Sistina Heads Betting on Star-Studded Makybe Diva Stakes 2024 Field

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.

In 2023 after completing the Memsie Stakes – Makybe Diva Stakes double, Mr Brightside continued to frank the form with a host of subsequent Group 1 placings including a Cox Plate second. He also returned in the autumn of 2024 to do the CF Orr Stakes – Futurity Stakes double.

Mr Brightside returned to successfully defend his title in the 2024 Makybe Diva Stakes results becoming the first two-time champion since Sailor’s Guide (1956-57) and the first since the race became a mile Group 1.

Mr Brightside went on to frank the 2024 Makybe Diva form running second in his next two starts before a Cox Plate fourth and Group 1 Champions Stakes success that Melbourne Cup Carnival. The Makybe Diva Stakes third placegetter in 2024, Antino, meanwhile went on to win that year’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap.

Mr Brightside returned for his historical third straight Makybe Diva Stakes victory in 2025.

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).

Mr Brightside also won the 2024 Makybe Diva Stakes off a lead-up second in the Memsie Stakes that spring.

In 2025 Mr Brightside again won the Makybe Diva after a first-up second in the Memsie Stakes.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 MAKYBE DIVA STAKES FORM GUIDE

The 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes final field features a small but top-class line-up of just six middle-distance stars including the Chris Waller trained mares Via Sistina and Aeliana who ran one-two in Sydney’s Winx Stakes last time out.

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Makybe Diva Stakes Barrier & Speedmap

1

Mr Brightside Front Runner

2

Via Sistina Midfield

3

Mark Twain Back Marker

4

Antino Back Marker

5

Aeliana Midfield

6

Tom Kitten Midfield

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.

The only double winners of the event are Chicquita in 1950-51, Sailor’s Guide in 1956-57, and the brilliant three-time champion Mr Brightside in 2023-25.

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.

Makybe Diva Stakes Previous Race Winners

Recent Makybe Diva Stakes Winners