The Makybe Diva Stakes may not be the Grand Final for trainers in their preparations for the spring, but it is still a pivotal race in determining spring fortunes.
The 1600m Group 1 contest at Flemington on Saturday invariably sheds a light on those that are progressing well and those that may need a little more.
Saturday’s weight-for-age contest has brought together a field of seven quality horses.
Mr Brightside and Alligator Blood renew hostilities after the former won the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 2 with ‘The Blood’ finishing fourth.
Alligator Blood will be second-up on Saturday and will appreciate the step up to 1600m while the Lindsay Park camp of Ben, Will and J D Hayes, along with jockey Craig Williams, believe Mr Brightside is possibly the best miler in Australia.
Both have drawn nicely in barriers two (Mr Brightside) and four (Alligator Blood).
Spanish Mission (barrier 6) returns after 12 months on the sidelines after a tendon injury while Aegon (gate 5) was an eye-catching first-up third in the Group 1 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 19 before running ninth in Memsie Stakes.
The remaining three runners are all trained by Chris Waller – Francesco Guardi (gate 3), Osipenko (1) and Princess Grace (7).
Waller, who is yet to claim victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes, had a change of plans for Francesco Guardi after the gelding was scratched from the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last week after drawing wide.
Francesco Guardi finished a first-up tenth in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Randwick last month before being sent to Melbourne with the Feehan in mind.
Osipenko has had two runs for the campaign, finishing fifth in the Winx Stakes before running seventh in the Memsie.
“His last run was OK, but a mile will suit him better,” Waller said.
Waller said the form surrounding Princess Grace was strong after running a first-up second to stablemate Fangirl in the Winx Stakes before an unlucky second with Blake Shinn aboard, who has the ride again, in the Memsie Stakes.
“She’s running very well,” Waller said.
“Blake said if a couple of things could have gone her way, she would have made it really close for Mr Brightside.”
