2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Day Preview

STOLI BOLLI can return to winning form under James McDonald.

The Deep Field gelding settled off the pace and worked home well to finish a length third at The Valley when resuming last month and produced a similar performance behind an impressive Red Hot Nicc last time out.

Having finished sixth in a Coolmore Stud Stakes down the Flemington straight previously, he gets plenty of ticks this week.

MCGAW is second up and open to improvement into the Poseidon Stakes.

McGaw was unbeaten in two starts during his debut preparation, including the lucrative Inglis Millennium, while he was doing his best work through the line when second in the McNeil Stakes when resuming.

This will be his first look at the Flemington straight but assuming he handles it, he strips fitter and is certainly up to the class of something like this.

VINROCK is another one that I am expecting big improvement from second up on Makybe Diva Stakes Day.

Vinrock enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence during an unbeaten two-year-old preparation that peaked with victory in the Group 1 Inglis Sires.

While he did suffer his first defeat when third in the McNeil Stakes when resuming this time, natural improvement and getting out to his pet trip this week are big ticks.

MY GLADIOLA debuted to racing for instant success during her two-year-old campaign earlier this year, while she produced an eye-catching turn of foot to finish less than half a length behind the winner when resuming.

She’s been kept up to the mark with a slick trial since that race and looks well placed to go one better on Saturday.

POP AWARD drops in class and in my opinion, back into a far more suitable contest this week at HQ.

The Shamus Award mare won each of three starts last time in,and picked up where she left off with consecutive victories at Caulfield, including the Regal Roller Stakes, first and second up this time.

She finished three lengths third behind the likes of Magic Time in the Cockram Stakes last time out, but the rise in trip this week looks suitable, and I am happy to give her another chance.

ARKANSAW KID is third up and primed to strike in the Bobbie Lewis Quality.

While he is yet to record a victory this time in, Arkansaw Kid has been good in finishing the runner up in both the Regal Roller and The Heath 1100 so far.

Last spring, his preparation peaked with victory in this very race, and he found form around some quality individuals, while a credible sixth placing in a Newmarket Handicap here in autumn suggests he’s at his best down the Flemington straight.

REVELARE dusted off the cobwebs when finishing seventh in BM100 fresh from a break, but he enjoyed plenty of improvement into an eye-catching victory when getting out to 2000m most recently.

He is unbeaten here at Flemington and will relish another rise in trip for the Lexus Archer Stakes, and this is a great opportunity for him to claim ballot-free exemption into the Melbourne Cup.

I simply cannot tip against VIA SISTINA in the Makybe Diva Stakes 2025.

You don’t need me to rattle off her incredible record again but plainly, Via Sistina is the best horse currently in work in Australia, and she turned in another excellent performance to win the Winx Stakes first up from a spell.

I’m confident she’ll only improve for that effort, getting out to 1600m at Flemington suits and she boasts a strong second-up record to boot.

Toss in James McDonald and I just cannot find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.

For our complete runner-by-runner 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes preview – click here! 

LAZZURA was excellent in her first run back from a break and gets a great chance to make it two in a row when she takes her place in the Let’s Elope Stakes field.

Lazzura has always been an above-average galloper, and she produced a typically competitive campaign through the autumn this year, winning a Phar Lap Stakes before ending her prep fourth in the Queen Of The Turf.

She did it quite easily in the Show County Quality up in Sydney last month and with natural improvement and getting back into mares’ company this week, she’s another one whom I’m confident can go on with it.

GLOBE is second up and well placed in the last on Makybe Diva Stakes Day.

The Charm Spirit gelding has raced consistently through twelve career starts so far, winning five times and finding form around some credible opposition.

He co-led on a hot tempo at The Valley when resuming before ultimately finishing less than half a length second, and he’s yet to finish worse than second at this point of his preparation.