Spring is in full bloom and so is the racing action at Flemington, where this Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes Day promises a feast of elite competition, storylines, and Group 1 drama.
Headlining the ten-race card is the 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes, a weight-for-age showdown that has drawn a select but star-studded field including Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina and reigning champion Mr Brightside, who’s chasing a historic third consecutive win in the race.
Supporting features like the Archer Stakes, offering a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup, and the Let’s Elope Stakes for the mares, add depth to a program brimming with spring carnival implications.
Strap in for a thrilling ride through the form, the fields, and the flair of Makybe Diva Stakes Day.
SHE’S AN ARTIST (5) stamped herself as a horse to follow in her first preparation, and she returns to the races here.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Trapeze Artist filly created an impression on debut when bolting in by five lengths over 1100m at Bendigo.
She let down powerfully in the final furlong to win over this course and distance by 3.8 lengths at her second start before tasting defeat for the only time in a narrow loss to Bridal Waltz in the Listed A.R. Creswick Stakes.
Jamie Melham was lambasted for her ride, but it must be noted that Bridal Waltz subsequently won the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes.
Craig Williams is back in the saddle and will give her every chance to show her best.
| 10. She’s An Artist (5) J: Craig Williams 58kg 112xT: Ciaron Maher |
LEGACY BOUND (3) returns for his second preparation looking to keep his unbeaten record intact.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained gelding won on raw ability on debut before making it a one act affair in the Group 3 Breeders Stakes at Morphettville when romping in by 2.8 lengths in his second start.
He was spelled and returns here a more furnished horse on the back of two trials with the most recent producing a stellar piece of work.
Mark Zahra will give him every chance.
| 3. Legacy Bound (3) J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg 11xT: Robbie Griffiths |
CROSSBOW (3) didn’t look like he enjoyed racing at The Valley and was tasked with carrying 60kg but still managed to record the quickest final 800-200m split of the race to finish second by 1.5 lengths.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding was super two starts back over this course and distance when letting down powerfully to win by 1.3 lengths.
He’s rock hard fit and gets the services of James McDonald.
With speed drawn to his outside, he should be able to settle in a prominent position.
| 3. Crossbow (7) J: James McDonald 57.5kg x2212T: Chris Waller |
MY GLADIOLA (2) looks set for a big preparation based on her excellent return in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes.
The John McArdle-trained filly settled last before rocketing home down the outside to finish a neck second.
She’s since been back to the trials and presented a pleasing piece of work where she won.
If the outside section of the straight to be, she’ll be steaming home like a freight train.
| 2. My Gladiola (18) J: Jamie Mott 58.5kg 128×2T: John McArdle |
RISE AT DAWN (1) returns to the races for the first time since finishing towards the back in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
The Team Hayes-trained gelding does his best work fresh and boasts the ultra-impressive first-up record of three wins from as many starts.
One of those first-up wins came last preparation when he resumed over this course and distance in the Listed Elms.
He was given a solid hit out in his most recent trial so expect a bold front running display from him.
| 1. Rise At Dawn (8) J: Michael Dee 59kg 4x50xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
ROYAL INSIGNIA (11) returned in super order last start in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes.
The Grahame Begg-trained son of Written Tycoon settled back before working home powerfully along the fence, which looked the inferior going, to finish 1.45 lengths third.
He’s since been back to the trials where he was doing his best work through the line.
Craig Williams takes the ride and will give him every chance with the light weight in this year’s Bobbie Lewis.
| 11. Royal Insignia (3) J: Craig Williams 53kg 170×3T: Grahame Begg |
REVELARE (4) looked in need of the run first-up but bounced back to regular transmission quickly.
The son of So You Think enjoyed the rise to 2000m at Caulfield last start where he let down strongly to win by a neck.
He’ll be further improved third-up and is undefeated in two previous starts at Flemington albeit over 2000m.
With seven wins from 10 starts, he’s one of the future stars in the Australian staying ranks and I’m expecting to see that talent on full display here.
| 4. Revelare (10) J: Declan Bates 55.5kg 11×71T: Robert Hickmott |
VIA SISTINA (5) kicked off her Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate campaign with a win last start in the Group 1 Winx Stakes.
The Chris Waller-trained superstar mare was able to get through the Heavy 10 going to defeat Aeliana by a neck.
She produced her only disappointing Australian performance in this race, the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes last year, when second-up but that was on a heavy track, and she will face a much drier surface here.
She maps to do no work in the small field for James McDonald.
| 5. Via Sistina (2) J: James McDonald 57kg 111×1T: Chris Waller |
ON DISPLAY (7) stamped her class when finishing last preparation with a barnstorming win in the Adelaide Guineas by 2.3 lengths.
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained mare looked set for a bold showing first-up following two jump outs and that’s how it panned out over 1400m at Caulfield with her proving too strong in a 1.3 length win.
She’ll strip fitter second-up and will appreciate the drier track.
From barrier 1, Ben Melham can give her a lovely run before letting her loose in the straight.
| 7. On Display (1) J: Ben Melham 56kg 241×1T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
GLOBE (4) was very good when returning from a 20-week last start over 1523m at The Valley.
The lightly raced seven-year-old gelding raced at decent clip on speed and found the lead late, only to be bloused by Hard To Cross to finish a neck second.
He’ll be better for the hit out and has raced well second-up in the past including a big win at just his second start and a hard fought second in last year’s Listed Chester Manifold Stakes over a mile here.
He’s drawn well in barrier 2 for Mark Zahra who will look to dictate the race from in front.
| 4. Globe (2) J: Mark Zahra 59kg 3x0x2T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |