MAKYBE DIVA STAKES News Stories

The Makybe Diva Stakes is one of the Spring Carnival's early highlights. Contested over a mile at Flemington, the Makybe Diva Stakes gives punters an indication of which horses they need to be following over the carnival.

The race was inaugurated back in 1948 as the Craiglee Stakes. This name stuck until 2007, when the race was renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes. This was in honour of Makybe Diva, arguably Australia's greatest ever stayer, who claimed her third consecutive Melbourne Cup in 2005. 

It is therefore fitting that so many of the past winners of the Makybe Diva Stakes have also triumphed in the race that stops a nation. This list includes Comic Court, Light Fingers, Rain Lover, Jeune and Shocking.

It is clear that stayers have used the 1,600 metres at Flemington as a lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup in the past. Therefore, the Makybe Diva Stakes is always a race that holds a lot of interest. Especially considering that the winner of the race gains an automatic place in the Caulfield Cup.

With some of the best sprinter-milers taking on the middle-distance and staying types, the Makybe Diva Stakes can be a hard read for the punter. This is reflected in the prices of previous winners. Since 2010, just 4 of the 9 winners started in single figure odds, while the only favourite to win in this period was Dissident in 2014.