The Makybe Diva Stakes, previously called the Craiglee Stakes, was first held over 10 furlongs (about 2000 metres) in 1948 and was won by a horse called Lungi. The following year it was won by Comic Court who went on to win the 1950 Melbourne Cup. In 1965 the race was reduced to 1600m and it became a Group 2 race. In 2007 it was renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes, and in 2013 it became a Group 1 race.

Lead-up races are the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (formerly called the JJ Liston Stakes) held in mid-August and the Memsie Stakes held one week earlier. Horses that perform well in this race often go on to run in the Underwood Stakes. In recent years the favourite has rarely won this race, and mares do not have a very good strike rate.

2024 Makybe Diva Stakes Preview and results

2023 Makybe Diva Stakes Preview and results

2022 Makybe Diva Stakes Preview and results

2021 Makybe Diva Stakes Preview and results

Last mare to win: Southern Speed (2012)

Last 3YO to win: C&G Acramitis  (1954)   is he only 3YO to have won.

Multiple winners: Mr Brightside (2023 & 2024); Sailor’s Guide (1956 & 1957); Chicquita (1950 & 1951).

Fastest time (1600m): Dual Choice (1971) 1:31:9

Interesting trivia:

This is a tough race to win and only three horses have won it more than once – Mr Brightside in 2023 and 2024, Sailor’s Guide in 1956 and 1957 and Chicquita in 1950 and 1951. The only three-year-old to win was Acramitis in 1954. Past Makybe Diva Stakes winners include Melbourne Cup winners, Cox Plate winners, Caulfield Cup winners and Newmarket Handicap winners.

Zabeel won in 1990 and has since sired well over 100 individual stakeswinners and his bloodlines can be found in the fields of every important staying race in Australia. Other notable winners include Northerly, Sky Heights, Rose of Kingston, Ming Dynasty, Gay Icarus, Rain Lover, Tobin Bronze and Light Fingers. Lee Freedman has trained most winners with four, and jockeys Craig Williams has had 4 winners.

From the archives:

Makybe Diva Stakes Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Good   Weather: Overcast

There is a field of 12 for the $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes. One is resuming from a spell, six are second-up, three are having their third run back from a spell and two have had 3 runs already. Six of them had their last start in the Memsie Stakes. The early favourite is Kementari who ran on strongly for a close 2^nd in the Memsie. Second favourite is Humidor who won this race last year and won the Memsie last start. Third favourite is Kings Will Dream who ran 3^rd in the Memsie after 4^th in the PB Lawrence.

Happy Clapper resumed for 7^th in the Memsie and goes well second-up. Comin’ Through resumed with a win in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes over 1400m at Randwick. Grunt didn’t have the best of runs when 8^th in the Memsie, and should improve from that. Jon Snow ran 4^th in a Group 1 race in New Zealand last start. Black Hart Bart was 6^th in the Memsie and was 3^rd in this race last year and 2^nd in 2016. All other runners are currently at 33 to 1 or longer.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.