MAKYBE DIVA STAKES
1600m, $750,000, weight-for-age
HISTORY
* First run in 1948 when won by Lungi
* Group One from 2013. Run over 2000m 1948-64. Until 2006 known as Craiglee Stakes
NOTABLE WINNERS
* Comic Court (1949), Chicquita (1950/51), Sailor’s Guide (1956/57), Light Fingers (1965), Rain Lover (1969), Dulcify (1979), Zabeel (1990), Mahogany (1994), Jeune (1995), Northerly (2002), Weekend Hussler (2008), Fawkner (2015), Palentino (2016), Humidor (2017)
TALKING POINTS
* Damien Oliver with four wins (Fawkner, Vigor, Sky Heights, Marble Halls) is the most successful modern day jockey ahead of Craig Williams with three
* Last horse to complete Makybe Diva Stakes-Caulfield Cup double: Northerly (2002)
* Last horse to complete Makybe Diva Stakes-Cox Plate double: Northerly (2002)
* Last horse to complete Makybe Diva-Melbourne Cup double: Rain Lover (1969)
* Humidor is attempting to become the first horse to win the race back-to-back since it was shortened to 1600m
* Darren Weir, represented by Black Heart Bart, Humidor, Tosen Basil and Kings Will Dream, is aiming for a third straight win after Palentino and Humidor
WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:
“If he has any luck from the barrier he’ll scare the living daylights out of it. But whether we get luck from the barrier is another thing” – Happy Clapper’s trainer Pat Webster
“He’s drawn a nice gate to have a nice run in the race so I think he’ll start to show up from Saturday” – Grunt’s trainer Mick Price.
“He’s the fittest he’s been this campaign and his work on Tuesday morning reflected that” – Kementari’s trainer James Cummings
“He’s going all right. He ran fourth in the Group One over 1400 the other day at Hastings which was a bit sharp for him but it was his first start since the Caulfield Cup” – Jon Snow’s co-trainer Murray Baker
“He’s a seven-year-old by Authorized and if he was coming out from Europe everyone would be excited about him” – Alan Mathews, trainer of Pounamu
