2026 Makybe Diva Stakes Day Preview

There’s a case to be made for all six horses engaged in the first on Makybe Diva Stakes Day, but I thought it was a great opportunity for MOBY DICK (4) to strike.

Moby Dick doesn’t win out of turn, but his two most recent performances have suggested another victory isn’t far away, and he has run on well from off the pace on both occasions.

Given the size of this field, I’m not expecting him to be too far away, and he has generally found his best form on the big Flemington deck.

The day’s first black type sees a capacity and smart field of three-year-olds step out over 1400m including UNIT FIVE (13), who is second up and open to plenty of improvement.

Unit Five was excellent during his two-year-old prep, winning the Magic Millions Classic on the Gold Coast most notably, while he dusted off the cobwebs when only just missing behind American Eagle in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes a fortnight ago.

Second up and further out in trip, something like this looks well within his means.

SATONO GLOW (14) returns to action in the Cap D’Antibes.

She only made three appearances at the races during her debut preparation, but Satono Glow stamped herself as one to follow by winning twice, including the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes here at HQ.

Having gone to the paddock after finishing on the placegetters’ heels in the Percy Sykes, she’s had the benefit of a couple of trials and importantly, is proven down the straight.

The same race but for the colts and geldings, the Poseidon Stakes field also runs deep with talent, including PARADOXIUM (3).

We haven’t seen Paradoxium at the races since April, but he too stamped himself as one to follow during a two-year-old season highlighted by wins in the Wyong Magic Millions race and the Group 2 Todman Stakes.

A couple of recent trial performances add further confidence and with one eye on some Group 1 races further into the carnival, I’m confident he can hit the ground running.

Ballot free entry into the 2026 Melbourne Cup field goes on the line and I am keen to have something on THINK GIANT (4) in the Lexus Archer Stakes.

Think Giant is yet to strike in three runs since arriving in Australia, but the former German stayer has undoubtedly improved with each and has finished on the placegetters’ heels at each of his last two.

Stepping out this week in peak order and getting further out in trip, he’ll carry only 54kgs and gets the services of Jamie Melham this week.

This looks another perfect race for the third-up SASS APPEAL (4).

Having won four consecutive races at the end of her autumn prep, including both the Desirable Stakes the Kewney Stakes here at Flemington, Sass Appeal picked up where she left off with a smart performance to strike in BM100 company last month.

While she was a little flat second up when beaten more than three lengths at Caulfield, she’ll undoubtedly improve for that effort and getting back to HQ on Saturday.

OLIVEANOTHERDAY (7) faces another rise in class into the Bobbie Lewis Quality field, but it looks the next logical step for him to take.

He was outstanding last time in, but the manner of Oliveanotherday’s first up performance and victory in Group 3 company at Caulfield a fortnight ago suggested he’s only improved this season.

Stripping fitter and getting back onto the big track at HQ, bad luck looks to be his only real rival in this contest.

The Makybe Diva Stakes field is dripping with talent in 2026, but SHEZA ALIBI (7) has opened a firm and fitting favourite, and I am happy to have her on top.

She went to another level in the autumn, capping an unbeaten preparation with a dominant victory in the Doncaster Mile.

While she did suffer defeat in her first run back this time, she was still good through the line behind Autumn Glow and will undoubtedly improve for that run, and getting back out to the mile.

I’m going to select her as my winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with both MR BRIGHTSIDE (2) and AUTUMN BOY (5) running into the first four.

Mr Brightside has won each of the last three editions of the Makybe Diva Stakes and steps out second up after finishing second in the Memsie Stakes, while Autumn Boy will relish getting out to the mile second up and looks the value in Makybe Diva Stakes betting, in my opinion.

Same Race Multi selections:

• To Win – No. 12 Sheza Alibi 
• Top 4 – No. 1 Mr Brightside
• Top 4 – No. 8 Autumn Boy 

This is an open edition of the Let’s Elope Stakes and I thought that COEUR VOLANTE (2) rated as a key winning chance at nice odds ($9 at publish).

Coeur Volante won three races in succession during the winter, finishing less than two lengths behind Sass Appeal over this route two back, while she was far from disgraced in the Group 2 PB Lawrence last time out.

Having been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race, she gets back into mares’ company and drops in the weights this week, while Ethan Brown can have her in a nice position in the run from a low draw before calling for an extra effort.

JUSTADEEL (4) is third up and ready to win when he steps out in the last on Makybe Diva Stakes Day.

The Dundeel gelding worked home to finish just over a length and a half behind the winner over 1300m at Rosehill when resuming last month, while he was last seen producing a similar performance at Sandown three weeks ago.

Fitter third-up and further out in trip, he’s drawn well under Jamie Melham and boasts an ability edge over a number of these rivals.