Introduction
The Makybe Diva Stakes is a Group 1 race that is run over 1600m at Flemington race course as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. The race is one of the early Group 1 races of the Carnival and the 1600m distance lends itself to a field consisting of the best middle-distance gallopers in Australia as well as staying superstars who are resuming from spells.
The 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes will be run on Saturday 16th September with a total prize money of $750,000.
The Makybe Diva Stakes: A Brief Overview
Dating back to 1948 and previously run as the Craiglee Stakes, the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes has a rich history. In 1965 the distance of the race was changed back to 1600m after being run over 200m and that change has helped attract quality runners at the beginning of their Spring campaigns.
There have been a host of notable winners in the race including NORTHERLY, MING DYNASTY and LIGHT FINGERS Northerly, Ming Dynasty and Light Fingers. The two most recent winners of the race INCENTIVISE (2021) and I’M THUNDERSTRUCK (2022) went on to have big Spring campaigns proving that the Makybe Diva Stakes is a great stepping stone to Spring riches.
The race is run under Weight-For-Age conditions (WFA) which simply means that horses carry a weight dependent on their age and sex. WFA races attract the best horses as superior horses cannot be handicapped with extra weight and this provides a pure contest.
Understanding the Basics of Makybe Diva Stakes Betting
The Makybe Diva Stakes can be a difficult race to assess. Horses that have been racing throughout the winter are race fit and close to their peaks while other horses are using the race to kick off lengthy spring campaigns. Historically it has been a race for outsiders with GATTING winning in 2019 at odds of 100-1. However, the momentum may be swinging towards the punters since then, with the last three winners being either favourite or second favourite.
The challenge for form analysts prior to the race is to ascertain which horses are “wound up” and ready to fire in comparison to others who are “exercising” and not ready to peak. Horses that run in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes as a lead up tend to perform well and they should be studied at length when doing the form.
Current jockeys Craig Williams, Damien Oliver and Mark Zahra have all ridden the winner of the Makybe Diva Stakes three times. The trio are proven big race riders who have extensive experience around the Flemington track and in the big races. Any horse that they ride in the Makybe Diva Stakes must be respected.
Trainer Peter Moody returned to training after a short retirement and prepared INCENTIVISE to win the race in 2021. It was his second win in the race and he is a trainer to follow in the race.
Conclusion
Once you have done the form for the race, the next step is to find an online bookmaker to bet with. There are a number of operators in Australia who differ in size and service. The Palmer family is a third-generation bookmaking family and Palmerbet is licensed within Australia. They offer the latest news and views on Group 1 racing and betting markets are available on the Makybe Diva Stakes throughout the year.
Sign up at Palmerbet.com or download the app to bet with an Australian owned and operated bookie who can be trusted. You will be glad that you did!
