Makybe Diva Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Makybe Diva Stakes, formerly known as the Craiglee Stakes prior to 2007, is a Group 1 open race held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne during the spring racing carnival in September.

This race was upgraded from a Group 2 to a Group 1 event in early 2013.

The Makybe Diva Stakes is a weight for age race run over 1600 meters and is hosted by the Victoria Racing Club.

The event is dedicated to Australian Thoroughbred champion racehorse Makybe Diva, winner of three Melbourne Cups with prize money worth $750,000 offered to the winner.

The race suits solid sprinters and promising stayers that take advantage of Flemington's long straight. The Makybe Diva Stakes heralds the beginning of mile stakes races for the season. Other races held on the day include the Group 2 Danehill Stakes, Bobbie Lewis Quality, and Lets Elope Stakes.

The weight for age conditions favour horses carrying 57 – 58 kilos over the mile except for mares that have crossed the finish line carrying 54 kilos.

The Makybe Diva Stakes usually features a classy field with many horses becoming top performers in major Group 1 races. Horses may head for the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse with a number of horses scoring a Makybe Diva/Underwood Stakes double. Others may tackle the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in October.

After winning in 2010, Shocking ran second in the Turnbull Stakes and made a strong comeback in the Group 1 Australian Cup during the autumn racing carnival at Flemington. Earlier in 2009, Shocking also won the Melbourne Cup. In the same year, Monaco Consul improved on his seventh place in the Makybe Diva Stakes, finishing second in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup in October.

In form sprinters and stayers that compete in the Makybe Diva Stakes have a great season ahead of them.

The Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield and the Group 1 Myer Classic at Flemington on Derby Day are among the notable races that have had placegetters or winners from the Makybe Diva Stakes perform brilliantly. Runner up in 2009, Typhoon Tracy won the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield and the Group 1 Myer Classic. Northerly, Australia's champion middle distance runner early in the millennium won the 2002 Makybe Diva Stakes, and then trounced the toughest opposition in the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup, and WS Cox Plate in the same year.

Makybe Diva Stakes early winners include Comic Court in 1949, 1965 Melbourne Cup winner Light Fingers, and Rain Lover who also won the Melbourne Cup in 1969.

The fastest winning time for the Makybe Diva Stakes was recorded by Jeune in 1995 with 1 minute 35 seconds. The slowest time for the Makybe Diva Stakes was recorded by Fine Offer in 1985 with 1 minute 44.3 seconds.