| Distance | 1600m |
| Grade | Group 1 |
| Track | Flemington |
| Prizemoney | $750,000 |
| Class | Weight for Age |
| 2018 winner |
Grunt ($12.00) |
Formerly known as the Craiglee Stakes, the great mare Makybe Diva has had this race dedicated to her since 2007.
The Diva was a three-time Melbourne Cup winner and sits amongst Australian racing royalty.
The Makybe Diva Stakes marks the first Group One middle-distance test of the Spring Carnival. Previous winners of note include Shocking (2010), Weekend Hussler (2008), Northerly (2002) and Jeune (1995).
Leading the way in the market for this year's event is Tasmania's answer to Winx, Mystic Journey.
This mare trained by the relatively unknown Adam Trinder has built an amazing record of 11 wins from 15 starts and currently sits on the first line of betting for the 2019 Cox Plate.
Her first-up win in the Group Two P.B Lawrence was impressive and one could only imagine how much improvement she'll take from that run.
Former Western Australian Scales Of Justice sits on the second line of betting after coming off an impressive win in the Group One Memsie Stakes.
Punters should be wary of the former Aiden O'Brien trained galloper Rostopovich, who ran fifth in the 2018 Cox Plate and fifth in the Melbourne Cup. Now under the guidance of Team Hayes and Dabernig, the son of Frankel looks set for a huge Spring and it wouldn't surprise to see him run well fresh.
Nominations for the 2019 Group One Makybe Diva Stakes are below:
| Horse | Trainer | Weight | Odds |
| MYSTIC JOURNEY | Adam Trinder | 56.5kg | $2.10 |
| SCALES OF JUSTICE | Lindsey Smith | 59kg | $5.50 |
| YUCATAN (IRE) | Liam Howley | 59kg | $9.00 |
| HARTNELL (GB) | James Cummings | 59kg | $11.00 |
| ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 59kg | $11.00 |
| KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | Chris Waller | 59kg | $11.00 |
| HUMIDOR (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 59kg | $15.00 |
| MR QUICKIE | Phillip Stokes | 58.5kg | $15.00 |
| FIFTY STARS (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 59kg | $15.00 |
| NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) | Chris Waller | 59kg | $15.00 |
| GAILO CHOP (FR) | Matthew Williams | 59kg | $26.00 |
| OOHOOD | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 56.5kg | $26.00 |
| ICONOCLASM | Danny O'Brien | 59kg | $26.00 |
| GATTING | Darren Mcauliffe | 59kg | $51.00 |
| QAFILA | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 56.5kg | $51.00 |
| WAGING WAR | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | 59kg | $51.00 |
| VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O'Brien | 58.5kg | $51.00 |
| SOUND (GER) | Michael Moroney | 59kg | $101.00 |