Makybe Diva Stakes Winners - Looking Back At The Last Five Editions

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Wed 09 Sep 2026 18:34

Alex Marsh 3 hours ago

Share this article

Look back at the last five editions of the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington
Mr Brightside has dominated recent renewals, winning the race three years in a row from 2023 to 2025
Relive the recent winners, placegetters and key performances from one of the spring’s leading weight-for-age contests

Back to Gallery

last 5 Makybe Diva Stakes winners

1 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Brett Prebble riding Incentivise defeats Jye McNeil riding Mo'unga in the 2021 Makybe Diva Stakes. (Getty)

2 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Brett Prebble riding Incentivise winning Race 8, the Pfd Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 11, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

3 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Incentivise after winning Race 8, the Pfd Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 11, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

4 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Mark Zahra riding I'm Thunderstruck wins the 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes. (Getty)

5 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Mark Zahra riding I'm Thunderstruck wins the 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes. (Getty)

6 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Mark Zahra riding I'm Thunderstruck wins the 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes. (Getty)

7 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Craig Williams riding Mr Brightside defeats Damien Oliver riding Alligator Blood in Race 7, the Pfd Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 16, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

8 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Craig Williams riding Mr Brightside winning Race 7, the Pfd Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 16, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

9 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Craig Williams poses with Will Hayes (L), JD Hayes and Ben Hayes after riding Mr Brightside to win Race 7, the Pfd Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 16, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

10 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Craig Williams riding Mr Brightside defeats Declan Bates riding Pride of Jenni in Race 8, the Crown Makybe Diva Stakes - Betting Odds, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 14, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. Third placing was Antino. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

11 - 16

12 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Mr Brightside poses with strapper Will Evans after winning Race 8, the Crown Makybe Diva Stakes - Betting Odds, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 14, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

13 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Craig Williams riding Mr Brightside winning Race 8, the Crown Makybe Diva Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

14 - 16

15 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Craig Williams and Mr Brightside after winning Race 8, the Crown Makybe Diva Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

16 - 16

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Strapper Will Evans poses with Co trainers JD Hayes and Will Hayes (r) after Mr Brightside won Race 8, the Crown Makybe Diva Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on September 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

All Photos16

❮ ❯

The Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) has long been one of the key early-season weight-for-age contests, regularly bringing together some of Australia’s leading milers and middle-distance horses at Flemington.

2025 Makybe Diva Stakes
2024 Makybe Diva Stakes
2023 Makybe Diva Stakes
2022 Makybe Diva Stakes
2021 Makybe Diva Stakes
After The Makybe Diva Stakes

Its recent honour roll underlines the quality required, with Mr Brightside completing a remarkable three-peat from 2023 to 2025 after I'm Thunderstruck and Incentivise won the two previous editions. The wider list of winners includes champions such as Tobin Bronze, Mahogany, Northerly and Weekend Hussler.

The 2026 edition again shapes as one of the highlights of the early Melbourne spring, with three-time defending champion Mr Brightside joined by Sheza Alibi, Sir Delius, Aeliana, Treasurethe Moment and a strong group of weight-for-age performers over the Flemington mile.

Ahead of the 2026 Makybe Diva Stakes, we look back at the last five editions and relive each running.

2025 Makybe Diva Stakes

1st - Mr Brightside

2nd - Aeliana

3rd - Via Sistina

2024 Makybe Diva Stakes

1st - Mr Brightside

2nd - Pride Of Jenni

3rd - Antino

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes

1st - Mr Brightside

2nd - Alligator Blood

3rd - Osipenko

2022 Makybe Diva Stakes

1st - I'm Thunderstruck

2nd - Alligator Blood

3rd - Mo'unga

2021 Makybe Diva Stakes

1st - Incentivise

2nd - Mo'unga

3rd - Sir Dragonet

After The Makybe Diva Stakes

The Makybe Diva Stakes has regularly provided an important early-spring guide, with its position over 1600m at Flemington attracting horses targeting some of the biggest weight-for-age races of the carnival.

Mr Brightside has dominated the race in recent years, becoming the first horse to win three consecutive editions when completing his hat-trick in 2025. His run began with victory over Alligator Blood in 2023 before he reeled in Pride Of Jenni in a memorable renewal 12 months later.

The 2021 edition proved particularly significant, with Incentivise winning at his first start at Group 1 level before continuing an outstanding spring campaign. He subsequently won the Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup before finishing runner-up in the Melbourne Cup.

I'm Thunderstruck added his name to the honour roll in 2022, getting the better of Alligator Blood in a tight finish before continuing his campaign at the highest level.

The race's wider honour roll adds further weight to its standing, with outstanding performers including Northerly, Weekend Hussler, Shocking, Dissident, Humidor and Fierce Impact among the horses to have won the event.

Saturday's edition provides Mr Brightside with the opportunity to extend his extraordinary record in the race, but a new generation of Group 1 contenders will attempt to end his dominance as the Makybe Diva Stakes once again takes centre stage over the Flemington mile.