A fantastic program is set down for Flemington on Saturday and this year’s renewal of the $400,000 Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes sees the return of Caulfield Cup winner, Master O’Reilly against last seasons Group I Manikato and George Ryder Stakes winner, Danleigh along with the Underwood Stakes hero Heart of Dreams. 

The Makybe Diva Stakes (formerly registered as: Craiglee Stakes) is one of three Group 2 events to be decided on the nine race card where the track is currently rated as a ‘slow 6’, with a penetrometer reading of 4.9 and although 10 millimetres of rain has fallen during the week.  The forecast is for more so it is highly likely that the Makybe Diva will be decided on a soft track.

TAB Sportsbet futures betting for the weight-for-age feature has Danleigh (ex Graceful Lily by Dr. Grace), as the early favourite.   Although the bay seven-year-old son of Mujahid has a poor record over the mile, he does have a solid fitness base and a distinct liking for soft going and is showing at $3.50 (5/2).

Lee Freedman loves to travel to Flemington and saddle up winners and his pair of Speed Gifted (Montjeu – Good Standing by Distant View) and Fanjura (Marju – Accelerating by Lear Fan) have strong credentials for the event.  Both horses like soft conditions, both, have the class to win the event although Fanjura does require two scratching to gain a start! 

One of the two four-year-olds in the event that has “wetter and better” credentials and worthy of consideration is Monaco Consul (High Chaparral ex Argante by Star Way), winner of last seasons Spring Champion Stakes, he appears in single figures in pre-post betting at $8.50 (15/2).

Another with a chance is Heart of Dreams (Show a Heart) and the bay is out to keep the reputation growing for his dam, Academy of Dreams (Royal Academy), after his older brother Rightfully Yours claimed a stakes event last weekend.

Last year’s winner, Vigor (O’Reilly – Rationable by Housebuster) currently showing at $5.50 (9/2) ran a blinder first time out this campaign and the brown gelding has three wins at the distance, however, his form on soft going isn’t that flash.  His stable mate Master O’Reilly (O’Reilly – Without Remorse by Bakharoff), winner of the 2007 Caulfield Cup, if he is forward and fit enough could do a Hugs Dancer and take the race first-up if the track was dead or on the better side of slow.

 Australian Hall of Fame inductee Northerly (Serheed – North Bell by Bellwater) won the Craiglee Stakes on the way to winning the Caulfield Cup in 2002.  A week later the champion galloper then went on to win a second Cox Plate.    While, Sky Heights (Zabeel – Moet Heights by Engagement) is another won that won the race on-route to the Caulfield Cup in 1999

 Both Jeune (Kalaglow – Youthful by Green Dancer) and Mannerism (Amyntor – Northwood Manner by Knightly Manner) posted the win on their resume a year after they won the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups, respectively. 

Overall, the race is a tough one, so if you get this right the TAB or your friendly bookie should be giving you a healthy return on your outlay my selections are Monaco Consul (pedigree) (race record), Heart of Dreams and Speed Gifted.

Previous winners of the Makybe Diva Stakes (formerly registered as Craiglee Stakes)

2009-10 Vigor (NZ)
2008-09 Weekend Hussler
2007-08 Marasco
2006-07 Pompeii Ruler
2005-06 Confectioner
2004-05 Hugs Dancer (FR)
2003-04 Pentastic
2002-03 Northerly
2001-02 Native Jazz (NZ)
2000-01 Go Flash Go
1999-00 Sky Heights (NZ)
1998-99 Umrum
1997-98 Marble Halls (NZ)
1996-97 Saleous
1995-96 Jeune (GB)
1994-95 Mahogany
1993-94 Mannerism

Tags: Spring Racing Carnival
Permalink| Sep 3, 2010

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