Makybe Diva Stakes: What you need to know
MAIN PLAYERS IN THE MAKYBE DIVA STAKES
Group One, 1600m, $500,000, weight-for-age. Run at Flemington
* First run in 1948. Known as Craiglee Stakes until 2007 when it was renamed after the three-time Melbourne Cup winner.
* Elevated to Group One status in 2013.
* Notable winners – Comic Court (1949), Chicquita (1950/51), Light Fingers (1965) Tobin Bronze (1966), Dulcify (1979), Zabeel (1990), Mahogany (1994), Jeune (1995), Weekend Hussler (2008), Shocking (2010), Dissident (2014) and Fawkner (2015)
THIS YEAR’S FIELD
* Rising Romance (second); Entirely Platinum (third); Happy Trails (fifth); Alpine Eagle (sixth) ran in last year’s race
* Eight Group One winners in 13 horse field – Prince Of Penzance, Happy Trails, Black Heart Bart, Our Ivanhowe, Tarzino, Palentino, Rising Romance, Sofia Rosa
* Leading trainer Darren Weir has three runners – Prince Of Penzance, Black Heart Bart and Palentino
* Lindsay Park trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have three runners – Jacquinot Bay, He Or She and Rising Romance
* Previous winners for David Hayes are Confectioner (2005), Hugs Dancer (2004) and Zabeel (1990). Peter Hayes won with Jeune (1995) for Lindsay Park
* Lee Freedman won with Marble Halls (1997); Mahogany (1994); Mannerism (1993) and Durbridge (1991). Now in partnership with his brother Anthony and has Our Ivanhowe this year
* Black Heart Bart is trying to emulate Dissident (2014) and Weekend Hussler (2008) to win the Memsie Stakes-Makybe Diva Stakes double
KEY COMMENTS
“I was a touch unlucky on her in the Makybe Diva last year, so hopefully we can go one better” – Rising Romance’s jockey Damien Lane
“He hasn’t run a bad race since he has come over to the eastern states, so he’s a fantastic ride to pick up” – Black Heart Bart’s jockey Damien Oliver
“He’s in just as good form and while he might not have won for a while he’s been oh so unlucky and oh so close on a few occasions” – Wayne Hawkes on last year’s third placegetter Entirely Platinum
THE EARLY MONEY
* After drawing barrier eight, Black Heart Bart has eased slightly from $2.20 to $2.30 but remains a dominant favourite
* Rising Romance has firmed from $10 to $8 as she chases a first win since joining Lindsay Park which includes three Group One second placings