3 minute read

This afternoon’s Makybe Diva Stakes like last week’s Memsie Stakes will be run for the first time with group 1 status.

Recognised as a major lead up race for the spring, the Makybe Diva is run under weight for age conditions over 1600m at Flemington and in a sign of what lies ahead for many of the feature spring races, the field comprises nine euro bred gallopers now prepared locally.

An interesting aside is that three former English bred gallopers have already been successful in the Makybe Diva Stakes, Hugs Dancer in 2004, Jeune in 1995 and Runyon (later disqualified) in 1993. All three were trained by visionary trainer, the late Colin Hayes.

Like the G1 Memsie Stakes last week, the Makybe Diva is regarded as a “key” race for horses preparing for major spring races such as the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups as well as the Cox Plate.

However in recent years it has not turned out to be as significant as in was prior to the early 2000s.

For example the last Caulfield Cup winner to use the race as part of their spring programme was Elvstroem in 2004, while the last Cox Plate winner was Northerly in 2002 and Melbourne Cup winner Jeune in 1994.

The Makybe Diva Stakes formerly known as the Craiglee Stakes was first run in 1948 and in that time just two horses have completed the Melbourne Cup double, Light Fingers in 1965 and Rain Lover in 1969.

This is particularly significant as the reigning current Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune is posted as an early odds on favourite to win this afternoon’s renewal.

And it hard to argue with that initial assessment of the former French-trained galloper’s prospects.

Now prepared by Darren Weir, Puissance De Lune roughly translated to ‘’Power Moon’’ has been a startling success since coming to Australia winning seven of his ten race starts including his last four outings, a sequence that started with the Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) last October by eight lengths.

The grey has also registered a powerful win in the G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2600m on the final day of the spring carnival in 2012 running to his current master Timeform rating of 123+.

That win that saw him catapulted to the head of betting for the 2013 Melbourne Cup, a position he has held ever since.

Puissance De Lune had one start in the Autumn dead heating with Budrigeuz in the G2 Blamey Stakes over this afternoon’s course and distance, a race that many believed he should have won clearly had he not been held up at the top of the straight.

Puissance De Lune commenced his 2013 Cup campaign with an impressive first up victory in the G2 P J Lawrence Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield coming from last on the turn to run out a comfortable winner on the line running to a Timeform rating of 117+.

Clearly there is considerable improvement to come but in a race where nine of his opponents are first up after spells, he does have a slight advantage on the score of fitness.

While the 1600m of this afternoon’s race is not ideal, Puissance De Lune has shown he is capable of sprinting well while fresh and the fact he is already a winner over this distance on the spacious Flemington track augers well for his winning prospects today.

Today is the biggest test for Puissance De Lune who faces group one company for the first time. But if he runs close to his master Timeform rating, then he has the race in his keeping as the fitness edge is likely to play to his advantage, but whether he is entitled to be shorter than even money in the betting is another matter.

And this is especially so if the import debutante Sea Moon formerly with Sir Michael Stoute decides to turn up in top form.

Sea Moon is Timeform rated 127 after his demolition job on the 2012 G2 Hardwicke Stakes field over 2400m at Royal Ascot that included 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden and runner-up Red Cadeaux , and 2012 Cup placings Jakkalberry and Fiorente.

Other notable performances by Sea Moon in his 10 start career include and unlucky close up fifth in the 2012 G1 King George Stakes at Ascot behind Arc winner Danedream and a second in the G1 Breeder’s Cup behind St Nicholas Abbey.

Sea Moon also boasts an eight length victory over current European group 1 performer Al Kazeem in the 2011 G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

Quite clearly Sea Moon is the best horse in the Makybe Diva Stakes field, and although a maiden winner over 1600m at his second ever race start at Great Yarmouth, he is an unknown quantity over 1600m at his first Australian start as a five-year-old, and that is the dilemma for punters this afternoon.

Sea Moon has looked impressive in his two public trials and all the signs are positive that he will race well, however I am assuming he might just need this effort fitness wise to get him on track for races like the Caulfield Cup where he was handed the ultimate invitation to run being allocated just 57kgs after weights were released last Wednesday.

Fellow imports December Draw, Foreteller and Manighar all have claims but there will be many hoping one of the lone Aussie contenders Mr Moet can stand up for the locals.

December Draw has been a huge success for trainer Mark Kavanagh since leaving the UK winning both the 2011 Turnbull and Underwood Stakes before injuring himself as favourite in the 2011 Caulfield Cup requiring almost a year’s break from the track.

December Draw returned last spring and although he failed to win in five starts, did race well with placings to Ocean Park in the Underwood Stakes and Green Moon in the Turnbull Stakes.

Kavanagh kicked off that campaign in the 2012 Makybe Diva Stakes, December Draw finishing four lengths astern Southern Speed.

Timeform rated 123 off his best form, December Draw remains under notice today.

The Chris Waller-trained Foreteller has already tasted success in Melbourne and with Sydney’s premier trainer splitting his Cups teams between Sydney and Melbourne, the Makybe Diva Stakes seems a good option.

Timeform rated 122, Foreteller was a winner of the G1 Ranvet Stakes last Autumn defeating Fiveandahalfstar as well as just going down to stablemate Beaten Up in the G1 Doomben Cup so he does bring genuine group one form to the table this afternoon.

Foreteller comes into the race second up after finishing just over three lengths from Veyron in the G2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm. No doubt he will take plenty of improvement from that effort.

Foreteller has Craig Newitt in the saddle for the first time and as a winner already second up he looms as a definite knock out chance.

West Australian galloper Mr Moet is not without claims. The consistent seven-year-old resumes but has been given a searching preparation with three Lark Hill barrier trials under his belt coming into today.

Mr Moet has a good record fresh up winning three of five in that state including G1 Railway Stakes over 1600m last December defeating Luckygray. He also performed well over the autumn carnival including a close third to crack colt All Too Hard in the G1 Orr Stakes.

Mr Moet has drawn awkwardly but will go back in any case. Expect to see him finishing the race off hard.

An intriguing aside looms as well for this afternoon’s renewal. If Puissance De Lune does win today, he will be tempting historical fate as he then aims to become just the third horse in history and the first in over thirty years to complete the Melbourne Cup double.

Sit back and enjoy a major spring lead up.