Last-start Group 1 winners Fangirl and Mr Brightside headline the 15 nominations for the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Having saluted in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), the Chris Waller-trained Fangirl will be looking to add a first Victorian Group 1 to her elite-level successes in Sydney.
Fangirl has just once started the ‘Victorian way’, when saluting at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) in 2021.
Mr Brightside will be aiming for a first Flemington Group 1 victory having saluted in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last time out.
Having finished second to Mr Brightside in the Memsie, Princess Grace will be looking to go one better in Saturday’s Group 1 if connections opt to accept.
One notable nominee for the Makybe Diva Stakes is superstar Perth mare Amelia’s Jewel.
While she does hold a nomination for the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m), also at Flemington, it would set up a mouth-watering contest between two of the best horses in Australia if she does goes up against Mr Brightside.
Alligator Blood, who finished second in the race last year behind I’m Thunderstruck, is expected to improve greatly from his first-up fourth in the Memsie Stakes, with Damien Oliver booked for the galloper from the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn.
The final field for the 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes is set to be released at 11am on Wednesday morning.
Makybe Diva Stakes 2023 nominations
| # | Horse | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aegon | Andrew Forsman |
| 2 | Alligator Blood | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 3 | Amelia’s Jewel | Simon Miller |
| 4 | Duke De Sessa | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 5 | Fangirl | Chris Waller |
| 6 | Francesco Guardi | Chris Waller |
| 7 | Going Global | Chris Waller |
| 8 | Hinged | Chris Waller |
| 9 | Lindermann | Chris Waller |
| 10 | Mr Brightside | Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
| 11 | My Oberon | Annabel Neasham |
| 12 | Osipenko | Chris Waller |
| 13 | Princess Grace | Chris Waller |
| 14 | Spanish Mission | Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman |
| 15 | Zaaki | Annabel Neasham |
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