Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted September 13, 2023 Journalists Share Posted September 13, 2023 Mr Brightside will face just six rivals in the 2023 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes. (Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos) It may be small in numbers, but the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) is stacked with talent for the $750,000 feature at Flemington on Saturday. Heading the acceptances is last-start Memsie Stakes (1400m) winner Mr Brightside, who will be chasing his maiden Flemington Group 1 triumph this weekend. Despite winning just one race from six goes at Flemington, online bookmakers did not hesitate in installing Mr Brightside as a -117.65 favourite. A winner of nine races at 1600m, Mr Brightside is arguably one of the best milers in the country, and a win in Saturday’s Group 1 would further emphasise that. Having finished second in this race last year, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Alligator Blood (+260) will be looking to go one better this weekend and build on a near-bombproof record at Flemington. The seven-year-old has won three of his four starts at Flemington, including two at Group 1 level, with his sole defeat coming when losing by the barest of margins to I’m Thunderstruck in the 2022 Makybe Diva Stakes. Following a runner-up effort in the Memsie Stakes, Princess Grace (+360) is one of three Chris Waller runners and will be looking to turn the tables on Mr Brightside as she steps up to the mile third-up from a spell. The effort in the Memsie Stakes came after finishing second in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) upon resumption. Osipenko (+1300) and Francesco Guardi (+3300) are the two other runners from the Waller yard. Kiwi galloper Aegon (+1700) and 2021 Melbourne Cup placegetter Spanish Mission (+4500) round out a small but star-studded lineup. The 2023 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes is race seven on Saturday’s stacked 10-race card at Flemington. Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Mr Brightside Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 2 59kg 2 Alligator Blood Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Damien Oliver 4 59kg 3 Spanish Mission Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman Luke Nole 6 59kg 4 Aegon Andrew Forsman Michael Dee 5 59kg 5 Francesco Guardi Chris Waller Damian Lane 3 59kg 6 Osipenko Chris Waller Mark Zahra 1 58.5kg 7 Princess Grace Chris Waller Blake Shinn 7 57kg More horse racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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