Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 Barrier Draw & Final Field
- The barrier draw has been completed for the Makybe Diva Stakes
- The 2023 edition will be run at Flemington on Saturday, September 16
- A small, but quality lineup has been assembled
- Final field is included below
Mr Brightside has drawn barrier two in the Makybe Diva Stakes. (Getty)
Having won his last four attempts, which includes back-to-back victories to open this season, Mr Brightside (barrier 2) is the popular elect in Saturday's Makybe Diva Stakes.
Stepping to a mile won't worry the six-year-old, with Mr Brightside having won four of his last five 1600m attempts and that includes a third-up triumph via the All-Star Mile back in March.
Alligator Blood (barrier 4) was only narrowly defeated by I'm Thunderstruck in last year's Makybe Diva Stakes and although he did feature over the 2022 Brisbane Winter Carnival, the seven-year-old did kick off that Melbourne campaign in the Memsie Stakes, which was also the case this time in.
The five-time Group 1 winner finished fourth via that recent 1400m tilt at Caulfield and a return to Flemington is in his favour, with Alligator Blood having accrued three wins and a second from four tries on this circuit.
With back-to-back seconds at Group 1 level to open her campaign, Princess Grace (barrier 7) is firmly knocking on the door and while untried past 1400m in Australia, all of her overseas form was in the 1600m-1700m range.
Osipenko (barrier 1) is a four-year-old entire that'll appreciate the rise to 1600m, however, he was safely held in seventh behind Mr Brightside, Princess Grace and Alligator Blood in the Memsie Stakes.
Chris Waller will also be represented by Francesco Guardi (barrier 3), with the cups prospect second-up here after a solid return in the Winx Stakes on August 19.
Spanish Mission (barrier 6) and Aegon (barrier 5) have also accepted for the 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes, with this 1600m WFA event headlining a big 10-race card from Flemington on September 16.
Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 Barriers & Final Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr Brightside (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 2 | 59kg |
| 2 | Alligator Blood | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Damien Oliver | 4 | 59kg |
| 3 | Spanish Mission (USA) | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 6 | 59kg |
| 4 | Aegon (NZ) | Andrew Forsman | Michael Dee | 5 | 59kg |
| 5 | Francesco Guardi (IRE) | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 3 | 59kg |
| 6 | Osipenko (NZ) | Chris Waller | Mark Zahra | 1 | 58.5kg |
| 7 | Princess Grace (USA) | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 7 | 57kg |
Makybe Diva Stakes Winners
First run in 1948 as The Craiglee Stakes, the Makybe Diva Stakes has a strong history on the Melbourne racing scene.
This event was first contested over 2000m before moving to the mile journey in 1965, the trip it is currently running at today, while the name change of the race occurred in 2007 to honour the three-time Melbourne Cup winning champion.
The race gained Group 1 status in 2013 and that year saw the Chris Waller-trained Foreteller upset short favourite Puissance de Lune to claim the prize.
Several high-quality runners have taken out this weight-for-age feature, including Light Fingers, Dulcify, Mahogany Northerly and Weekend Hussler.
Fierce Impact (2020), Incentivise (2021) and I'm Thunderstruck (2022) have won the last three editions of the Makybe Diva Stakes.
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