Makybe Diva Stakes Horse Racing Tips 16/9/23

A small but high quality field has assembled to compete for this year’s edition of the Makybe Diva Stakes.

It largely sees a rematch from the Memsie Stakes two weeks ago with all bar two runners coming out of that race last start. 

‘Mr Brightside’, who is currently the $1.90 favourite, will be looking to win another Group 1 and to make it a hat-trick of wins this preparation.

‘Princess Grace’ and ‘Alligator Blood’ will be looking to turn the tables on the favourite as they finished 2nd and 4th respectively behind the Lindsey Park superstar in the Memsie. 

An intriguing race once again so let’s break it down and look at the main chances.

 

Track Conditions 

With fine weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, the track will remain as a Good 4 on race day. 

The running rail will be in the True position and this should see the track play evenly.

There will only be a slight disadvantage to be on-pace from an inside barrier or at the rear from an outside barrier. 

 

Caulfield Race 8 – The Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)

The Map 

Alligator Blood (Barrier 4) will fire out and should lead the field up comfortably here. 

Spanish Mission (Barrier 6) and Princess Grace (Barrier 7) should come across from the two outside barriers and have one settle outside of Alligator Blood and the other sit in behind with cover. 

Mr Brightside (Barrier 2) should kick up from the good barrier to settle right behind Alligator Blood on the running rail. 

Expecting Osipenko (Barrier 1), Francesco Guardi (Barrier 3) and Aegon (Barrier 5) to make up the back of the field.

 

The Favourite 

He looks to have gone to another level this preparation, despite his previous campaigns also being top-tier.

And it is no surprise he is fast becoming the poster boy of thoroughbred racing. 

Mr Brightside is looking for his third straight win this campaign and there looks to be no reason he can’t do so, continuing his ‘picket fence’ form. 

The 6yo faces the same opposition he beat in the Memsie last start and he will get a much better run from a good barrier (Barrier 2), unlike in the Memsie where he raced three-wide-no-cover the entire trip.

Will get the race run to suit him and he will only be further improved third-up (where he has 2 wins from 4 third-up runs).

Only bad luck will see him get beat. 

 

Tips 

Usually a short favourite in an elite Group 1 would see me looking elsewhere for value but either you take the shorts on Mr Brightside here or don’t bet on the race.

While there is a slight chance he gets rotten luck or another of these horses make dramatic improvement, he simply has their measure. 

Can’t see him getting rotten luck here though, as jockey Craig Williams should just follow Alligator Blood all of the way through and look to pop out from in behind him in the straight when Spanish Mission likely drops away. 

 

Alligator Blood does go well second-up (8:4-2-0), has a great record at Flemington (3 wins from 4 starts) and will get a soft lead this time around in comparison to the Memsie Stakes. 

He had this same preparation last year when he finished 7th in the Memsie and then was narrowly pipped on the line by I’m Thunderstruck in the Makybe Diva. 

He will be looking to go one better this time around and will be battling it out with Mr Brightside down the straight. 

 

Princess Grace will be hitting the line just behind them. 

She will need a good ride from the tricky barrier but she has the no better than Blake Shinn aboard for the ride with 24 winner from his last 100 rides. 

She goes well third-up also (3:1-2-0) and should be hitting the line in the placings. 

 

Osipenko will be rattling home from the back to make up the top 4. 

 

1st Mr Brightside

2nd Alligator Blood

3rd Princess Grace 

4th Osipenko

 

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