Makybe Diva Stakes Preview and Tips 14/09/24

With a few Group One races under our belts it’s time for the Makybe Diva Stakes and this year we see just eight runners line up to fight for the lion’s share of the $750,000 prize money on offer. The race is contested over the mile and if you look up “quality not quantity” you’ll probably find this race!

Even though there are just eight runners confirmed, the likes of Mr Brightside, Via Sistina and Pride Of Jenni are all making an appearance at Flemington Racecourse. This is another epic battle that us horse racing fans are getting treated to already so early in the Spring Racing Carnival.

My Saturday tips for the Makybe Diva Stakes have got you sorted. I’ve got five tips in total, looking for some value as well, so no matter the way you like to place your bets, there’s something for everyone here. So, let’s take a look at the race and which runners I think will excel.

With any race that has Pride Of Jenni in it, it’s a pretty straightforward likely leader. We all know Pride Of Jenni likes to lead and the only question remains, but how much. Via Sistina will also be looking for a spot near the leader and things should be made easier seeing though she is jumping from barrier one.

Mr Brightside is always in and around the action, so look out for him. Antino will likely be up near the front as well, as long as he can jump cleanly. The race will go as fast as Pride Of Jenni wants, but considering what happened in the Memsie Stakes last time out, she’ll want to keep something in the tank for the closing stages.

This was certainly a tough one to tip with so many high-quality chances. We get the battle of Mr Brightside vs Pride Of Jenni again, but thanks to their performances last time out, neither of them is the favourite, that honour goes to Via Sistina. Still, I’m putting Mr Brightside up as my best bet for the Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday.

I backed him in last year in the race and we all know what happened then, so I’m hoping to go two from two this year. He gets a good draw and jockey Craig Williams sticks with him here. Just needs a smidge of luck on his side and he’ll be too tough to keep up with in the closing stages. He is currently paying $3.00 with PlayUp.

If you want to play it safe, then I think the favourite, Via Sistina, is a pretty good safe bet. She’ll have to be at her very best to beat the likes of Mr Brightside, but she usually does produce her best. She got the win in the Winx Stakes and she looks to be building towards a peak for the Cox Plate. She’s currently paying $2.40 with Bet365.

She can steal the show again here and she has so far won two in her three Australian starts. The only race she didn’t win? She was second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. JMac is on board and she gets the gun draw so won’t have to do anything in the beginning. I’m hedging my bets a little and if you want to play it safe, Via Sistina to win.

While it’s not crazy value, Pride Of Jenni is currently listed with odds of $6.50 to win with Dabble. When you think about how much quality and class this racehorse has, I do believe that she is way overs and therefore she is my value bet for the 2024 Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday. 

She’ll be looking to make up for her performance last time out and she does get a chance to right her wrongs as several of the horses in the Memsie Stakes line up again here in this one. She loves Flemington and gets back to the mile again, think this race is a lot more to her liking, so expecting a better performance.

There are not a lot of options for the danger and best roughie, considering only eight runners are competing, but I’ve made my decision and think Atushu is the danger to watch out for. Yes, she’s a little inconsistent at times and this has cost her, but on her day, she is more than capable of winning major races.

Atishu is certainly a roughie, currently with odds of $16 to win the Makybe Diva Stakes, thanks to QuestBet. She is the stablemate to the current favourite, Via Sistina and she loves Flemington Racecourse. In fact, she has only finished lower than third place once (out of six attempts). Performs well when second-up and enjoys the mile as well. A lot to like.

Now, if you’re looking for something a little more out there, I’ve found Warmonger who I think very well may surprise a few on Saturday. Warmonger is paying $31 to win the Makybe Diva Stakes, with Bet Right. He’ll be running this race pretty fresh, but I think that is when he does his best work.

Warmonger really caught my eye probably at the same time as everyone else, when he put in an out-of-this-world performance in the Queensland Derby to win by 10 lengths, despite being wide with no cover. His trials have been good and show he is as fit as possible coming into this one. He has the skills to shake things up and needs to be respected.

All my Makybe Diva Stakes best bets and their odds can be found here:

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Mr Brightside (win)	$3.00
	Via Sistina (win)	$2.40
	Pride Of Jenni (each-way)	$6.50/$1.80
	Atishu (place)	$3.20
	Warmonger (place)	$4.60