Ladbrokes Tip: Older milers have a great record in the Makybe Diva Stakes in the past decade
The latest edition of the Makybe Diva Stakes ran on Saturday September 13, 2025 as the second Group 1 race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and saw Lindsay Park warhorse Mr Brightside ($5) secure his historic third straight victory.
2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Results
The official Makybe Diva Stakes 2025 Results & Finishing Order will be available below once the race is run and won on Saturday September 13, 2025.
- 1st: #1 Mr Brightside
- 2nd: #6 Aeliana
- 3rd: #5 Via Sistina
Mr Brightside ($5) made history as the first ever three-time Makybe Diva Stakes champion leading from barrier to box thanks to a gun tactical ride by Craig Williams. The eight-year-old Lindsay Park great ran his rivals ragged in a dominant display to put 1.5 lengths on the line of the Chris Waller trained Aeliana with Cox Plate queen Via Sistina a somewhat disappointing third as the beaten odds-on favourite.
2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Odds
The latest Makybe Diva Stakes 2025 betting odds and links to our Group 1 spring racing markets will be available here once open.
| 1. Mr Brightside (1) J: Craig Williams 59kg 120x2T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 6. Aeliana (5) J: Damian Lane 56.5kg 421x2T: Chris Waller | ||
| 5. Via Sistina (2) J: James McDonald 57kg 111x1T: Chris Waller | ||
| 3. Antino (4) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 011x5T: Tony Gollan | ||
| 2. Tom Kitten (6) J: Ben Melham 59kg 1573xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 4. Mark Twain (3) J: Jamie Mott 59kg 231x8T: Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
Makybe Diva Stakes Tips
Makybe Diva Stakes tips often predict an upset result with double-figure runners boasting a good record in the race over the past decade or so. Horses that ran well in their lead-up races also tend to dominate Group 1 spring racing predictions as there have been a number of last start winners to take out the race in recent years most recently Mr Brightside (2023).
Single-digit barriers have produced 11 Makybe Diva Stakes winners from 2012 -2025 most recently Mr Brightside (barrier 1 in 2025), but tipping isn’t led by gate positions as in recent years Littorio (14 in 2011) and Vigor (11 in 2009) have overcome wide barriers to salute in the feature, as did Vega Magic (10 in 2017).
Vega Magic went on to finish runner-up to Winx in the 2017 Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) so a good Makybe Diva Stakes tip is to watch for the best out of the mile feature in markets for Cox Plate at The Valley in late October.
The 2022 Makybe Diva Stakes winner I’m Thunderstruck also went on to finish runner-up in that spring’s Cox Plate results.
2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Makybe Diva Stakes 2025 betting tips will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned to see what milers and stayers to back and sack in the Flemington Group 1 race this season.
2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Same Race Multi Selections ($3.25 at time of publish)
- Top 2 – No. 5 Via Sistina
- Top 3 – No. 6 Aeliana
- Top 4 – No. 2 Tom Kitten
VIA SISTINA (2) is the clear standout and short-priced favourite in this field. This record-breaking eight-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock just keeps raising the bar. With her Ladbrokes Cox Plate title defence looming, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her career stats speak volumes—25 starts, countless jaw-dropping performances. She silenced critics with a gutsy fresh run on a bottomless Heavy (10) Randwick track, edging out Aeliana in the Winx Stakes and pushing her Group 1 tally into double digits. While last year’s run in this race didn’t go her way, she’s set to get more favourable conditions this time and looks primed to make amends. Her two subsequent Group 1 Flemington wins in the Turnbull and Champions Stakes—especially that 2.75-length demolition in the latter—prove she’s got the course well and truly covered. With J-Mac sticking from a dream barrier two draw, and despite a mixed second-up record, this champion mare is flying and incredibly hard to oppose.
AELIANA (5) from the same stable was the dominant Australian Derby winner from the autumn and looms as the clear danger, having gone agonisingly close fresh in the Winx Stakes over 1400m. She gave Via Sistina a serious scare that day, running out of her skin and showing just how much she’s matured into a powerful four-year-old mare. Jockey Jason Collett noted she was “a bit fresh and tardy out of the gates,” leaving us wondering—had she jumped cleanly and carried a touch more fitness, could she have turned the tables? No more speculation. Now stepping up to 1600m, she gets her Derby-winning rider Damian Lane back aboard from gate five. Expect her to be sharper, stronger, and ready to make a statement.
TOM KITTEN (6) is finally back and there’s plenty of anticipation around his return. The now five-year-old Godolphin galloper was a late scratching at the gates in the Memsie and has his rescheduled first-up run now. He’ll jump straight into a mile, and it marks his official debut for the Anthony & Sam Freedman stable. This exciting son of Harry Angel made headlines back in March, beating Mr B in the All-Star Mile at this very track and trip. He then wrapped up his prep with a strong third—just 2.5 lengths off Via Sistina—in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. Barrier six is no concern in a small field, and with Ben Melham aboard, everything looks in place for a bold showing. Can he deliver fresh and prove his star credentials from midfield? Time will tell. But at the very least, he shapes as excellent value for a Top 4 finish and could be the sleeper in this lineup.
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6. Aeliana (5)
J: Damian Lane 56.5kg
421×2T: Chris Waller
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5. Via Sistina (2)
J: James McDonald 57kg
111×1T: Chris Waller
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2. Tom Kitten (6)
J: Ben Melham 59kg
1573xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman
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The Makybe Diva Stakes is the opening Group 1 mile race of the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and takes place on a Saturday in early – mid September at the famous Flemington Racecourse.
The only elite level race at the meeting the weight-for-age showdown is currently $750,000 and often attracts horses that ran in the season’s first Group 1, the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight before.
The latest horses to complete the Memsie Stakes – Makybe Diva Stakes double – a popular early spring racing bet with the punters – are Dissident (2014) and Mr Brightside (2023).
Inaugurated in 1948 when Lungi won, Cosmic Court (1949) won the second edition of the Makybe Diva Stakes when it was known as the Craiglee Stakes. It was renamed in honour of superstar mare and three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva in 2007 and has held Group 1 status since 2013.
Other notable Makybe Diva Stakes winners over the years include Mr Brightside (2023), Incentivise (2021), Shocking (2010), Weekend Hussler (2008), Northerly (2002), Jeune (1995), Zabeel (1990), and Rose Of Kingston (1982).
Mr Brightside became the first two-time Makybe Diva Stakes winner since Sailor’s Guide (1956-57) when he successfully defended his title in 2024.
In 2025 Mr Brightside went one better to become history’s sole three-time Makybe Diva Stakes champion!
Makybe Diva Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday September 13, 2025
- Track: Flemington Racecourse
- Distance: 1600m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $750,000
- First Run: 1948
Makybe Diva Stakes Betting
Makybe Diva Stakes betting markets usually have horses that come via the Memsie Stakes two weeks earlier at the top of the odds with Dissident (2014) followed by Mr Brightside (2023) nearly a decade later the latest gallopers to complete the double.
Mr Brightside also won the 2024 and 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes off a lead-up second in the Memsie Stakes results both years.
The other horse to win both the Memsie Stakes and Makybe Diva Stakes prior to 2014 was Weekend Hussler (2008).
Favourites have a poor recent record with just five saluting in recent history with the aforementioned Dissident, Weekend Hussler, Fierce Impact ($4 in 2020), the ill-fated I’m Thunderstruck ($2.60 in 2022), and most recently the odds-on pick Mr Brightside ($1.85 in 2023).
Mr Brightside jumped at $3.50 winning his second Makybe Diva Stakes in 2024 with that year’s favourite, Via Sistina ($2.60), running a disappointing fifth over six lengths beaten.
In 2025, Via Sistina started the $1.80 favourite but ran third to Mr Brightside ($5).
There has been plenty of upsets in the meantime including 40/1 shot Littorio getting the job done in 2011 so looking further down the Makybe Diva Stakes odds for a value bet is always worth doing.
The Makybe Diva Stakes winner at the longest odds in recent history was 2019 champ Gatting who saluted at 100-1 defeating the hot favourite Mystic Journey.
Makybe Diva Stakes Field
The Makybe Diva Stakes race field has a capacity of 16 starters and was last run at that maximum number in 2010 when Shocking beat home his 15 rivals.
Final Makybe Diva Stakes acceptances are taken on the Wednesday before the race runs that Saturday and the last time the Makybe Diva Stakes field ran with under 10 starters was in 2023 when Mr Brightside defeated just six rivals.
Mr Brightside won the 2024 against seven rivals in another small Makybe Diva Stakes field that lacked numbers but not class.
In 2025 just six horses lined up in the Makybe Diva Stakes field when Mr Brightside beat them all home for his third success.
Horses may come into the Makybe Diva Stakes field on the back of a first-up run in the Memsie Stakes, or many stayers kick off their spring bids in the race on way to longer distance features at the carnival including Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) a fortnight later.
Another nice next-up option for horses out of the Makybe Diva Stakes field is Flemington’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m). Incentivise (2021) was the last horse to complete the Makybe Diva Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double.
Incentivise also went on to win that year’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) before his second behind champion mare Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles.
2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Field
The official Makybe Diva Stakes 2025 Final Field & Barriers will be published in full below once acceptances for the Group 1 Flemington feature close the Wednesday of race week.
The 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes final field features a small but top-class line-up of just six middle-distance stars including the Chris Waller trained mares Via Sistina and Aeliana who ran one-two in Sydney’s Winx Stakes last time out.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Mr Brightside
J: Craig Williams
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
2120x2 | G | 1 | 59kg | |
|
2. Tom Kitten
J: Ben Melham
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
21573x | G | 6 | 59kg | |
|
3. Antino
J: Blake Shinn
T: Tony Gollan |
x011x5 | G | 4 | 59kg | |
|
4. Mark Twain
J: Jamie Mott
T: Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
1231x8 | G | 3 | 59kg | |
|
5. Via Sistina
J: James McDonald
T: Chris Waller |
3111x1 | M | 2 | 57kg | |
|
6. Aeliana
J: Damian Lane
T: Chris Waller |
3421x2 | M | 5 | 56.5kg |
2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Nominations
The Makybe Diva Stakes Nominations for 2025 close on the Monday of race week with the full list of early entries to be made available below.
The 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes nominations have been extended until 10:00AM (AEST) – 08/09/2025
The 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes nominations feature a star-studded line-up of Cox Plate hopefuls including Via Sistina and her stablemate Aeliana who ran one-two fresh in Sydney’s Winx Stakes.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 112x3421x2 | AELIANA (NZ) | M | 4 | Chris Waller | |
| 2 | x1x139x0x6 | ANISETTE (GB) | M | 6 | Chris Waller | 112 |
| 3 | 1712x146x6 | ANOTHER WIL | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 114 |
| 4 | 3120x011x5 | ANTINO (NZ) | G | 7 | Tony Gollan | 117 |
| 5 | 75x71211x0 | DEAKIN (FR) | G | 6 | Phillip Stokes | 103 |
| 6 | 4x95x1165x | KINGSWOOD (GB) | H | 6 | Gavin Bedggood | 99 |
| 7 | 241x2120x2 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | G | 8 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 120 |
| 8 | 7376x97x79 | PINSTRIPED | G | 7 | Enver Jusufovic | 109 |
| 9 | 243x21573x | TOM KITTEN | G | 5 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 116 |
| 10 | 111x3111x1 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | M | 8 | Chris Waller | 125 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Makybe Diva Stakes Form Guide
The Makybe Diva Stakes form guide lists basic info like the saddlecloth numbers, barriers, jockeys and trainers of all the horses lining up in the field.
Jockey Craig Williams has won six editions of the race aboard three-time hero Mr Brightside (2023 & 2024 & 2025), Littorio (2011), Adelaide mare Southern Speed (2012) and Confectioner (2005) so looking for the horse he rides in the form guide could be a nice bet. You can also see the lead-up form as well as the track and distance records of the runners.
The 2022 Makybe Diva Stakes runner-up Alligator Blood franked the form winning the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Group 1 VRC Champion’s Stakes (1600m) later that spring. Alligator Blood returned to run a brave second to Mr Brightside in the 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes results.
Mr Brightside went on to frank the 2024 Makybe Diva form running second in his next two starts before a Cox Plate fourth and Group 1 Champions Stakes success that Melbourne Cup Carnival. The Makybe Diva Stakes third placegetter in 2024, Antino, meanwhile went on to win that year’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap.
Makybe Diva Stakes Form Facts
- Single-digit Makybe Diva Stakes barriers produced 12 winners from 2012 – 2025.
- Southern Speed (2012) is the only Makybe Diva Stakes winning mare to beat home the boys since 1996.
- Favourites in Makybe Diva Stakes betting have a poor recent record with just five saluting from 2008 – 2025.
- The Memsie Stakes is a key lead-up producing all but five of the Makybe Diva winners from 2014 – 2025 including Dissident (2014) and Mr Brightside (2023) who did the double.
2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Form Guide
A link to our detailed Makybe Diva Stakes 2025 Form Guide and betting preview will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Makybe Diva Stakes Results
The Makybe Diva Stakes race results are known when the race runs late on the Flemington race card on Makybe Diva Stakes Day and show not only the winning trifecta for exotic bets but the exact finishing order of all the runners as well as any scratched horses, plus the winning time and margin for the record books.
There have been plenty of recent upset Makybe Diva Stakes results including big odds on offer for the ill-fated Gatting ($101 in 2019) who sadly passed away after breaking down in the same event in 2020, Humidor ($7 in 2017), Foreteller ($15 in 2013), and Littorio ($41 in 2011).
Mares have a poor record in the Makybe Diva Stakes race results with just the one win since 1996, while just two eight-year-olds have won the race in over 30 years with Hugs Dancer (2004) and Fawkner (2015).
Southern Speed (2012) was the last Makybe Diva Stakes winning mare.
Acramitis (1954) remains the only three-year-old Makybe Diva Stakes winner in history.
Dual Choice holds the current 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes race record winning in 1971 in 1 minute 31:9 seconds.
Mr Brightside (2023-25) is the only three-time Makybe Diva Stakes winner.
Past Makybe Diva Stakes Winners
Recent Makybe Diva Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
Sadly, the 2022 Makybe Diva Stakes winner I’m Thunderstruck would go on to be euthanised in March of 2023 following arthroscopic fetlock surgery. He suffered a catastrophic knee injury whilst getting up after general anaesthetic.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mr Brightside | Aeliana | Via Sistina | 1:38.75 |
| 2024 | Mr Brightside | Pride Of Jenni | Antino | 1:38.98 |
| 2023 | Mr Brightside | Alligator Blood | Osipenko | 1:37.4 |
| 2022 | I’m Thunderstruck | Alligator Blood | Mo’unga | 1:37.8 |
| 2021 | Incentivise | Mo’unga | Sir Dragonet | 1:36.6 |
| 2020 | Fierce Impact | Russian Camelot | So Si Bon | 1:36.3 |
| 2019 | Gatting | Mystic Journey | Mr Quickie | 1:33.9 |
| 2018 | Grunt | Kings Will Dream | Jon Snow | 1:34.9 |
| 2017 | Humidor | Hartnell | Black Heart Bart | 1:35.3 |
| 2016 | Palentino | Black Heart Bart | He Or She | 1:36.2 |
| 2015 | Fawkner | Rising Romance | Entirely Platinum | 1:37.9 |
| 2014 | Dissident | Fawkner | Puissance De Lune | 1:36.9 |
| 2013 | Foreteller | Puissance De Lune | Moudre | 1:37.0 |
| 2012 | Southern Speed | Manighar | Moudre | 1:37.8 |
| 2011 | Littorio | Glass Harmonium | Midas Touch | 1:37.8 |
| 2010 | Shocking | Heart Of Dreams | Vigor | 1:41.7 |
| 2009 | Vigor | Typhoon Tracy | Master O’Reilly | 1:35.8 |
| 2008 | Weekend Hussler | Zarita | Littorio | 1:38.6 |
| 2007 | Marasco | Apache Cat | Zipping | 1:36.7 |
| 2006 | Pompeii Ruler | Sphenophyta | Zipping | 1:38.5 |
| 2005 | Confectioner | Free At Last | Our Smoking Joe | 1:35.8 |
| 2004 | Hugs Dancer | Elvstoem | Zagalia | 1:38.2 |
| 2003 | Pentastic | Walk On Air | Mummify | 1:37.2 |
| 2002 | Northerly | Le Zagaletta | Silver Baron | 1:37.9 |
| 2001 | Native Jazz | Aka Bilk | Universal Prince | 1:37.4 |
| 2000 | Go Flash Go | Oliver Twist | Showella | 1:42.1 |
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes?
The 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes was won by eight-year-old Bullbars gelding Mr Brightside who secured his historic third straight success at $5 for Ben, Will & JD Hayes with jockey Craig Williams aboard on 59kg from barrier 1 to win by 1.5 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 1:38.75.
When is the Makybe Diva Stakes 2025?
Saturday September 13, 2025What is the prize money for the Makybe Diva Stakes 2025?
$750,000
Where is the Makybe Diva Stakes 2025?
Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031.
How do I bet on the 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android app with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you’ve created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods.
Next up, head to the racing page and find the runner that’s right for you.
Which horse will win the 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Makybe Diva Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors).
Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.