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Material Man Set For Makybe Diva

3 minute read

Perth star Material Man is set to open his Melbourne spring campaign in the G2 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week.

Trainer Justin Warwick will bring his dynamic jockey daughter Lucy Warwick to Melbourne to ride the gelding.

It will be the first interstate campaign for the seven-year-old Material Man, lightly raced for his age with just 23 starts since he debuted as a 4YO in 2016.

He has since won 14 races and has earned more than $1.3 million prizemoney, becoming one of Perth’s most versatile Group performers with wins over distances from 1190m to 2400m.

They include this year’s G2 Perth Cup (2400m) in January and a sequence of three Group 3 wins in June when he won the Belmont Sprint (1400m), Hyperion Stakes (1600m) and Strickland Stakes (2000m) in successive starts.

Material Man has since had two Perth barrier trials over 950m at Lark Hill for a win and a third to prepare him for his Melbourne campaign.

Warwick has arranged for Material Man to be stabled with Darren Weir’s team at Warrnambool.

Races on his agenda include the G1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and G1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) before the $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 20.

Warwick told the West Australian that he was delighted with Material Man’s recent trial form.

“He’s exactly where we want him to be at this stage of his preparation,” Warwick said.

“He’ll go straight into the Makybe Diva. Lucy will be on him in all his Melbourne races.”

Stablemate Elegant Blast, who has won four Perth races up to 2200m, will also race in Melbourne over the spring.

Another Perth star Pounamu will join Material Man in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Trainer Alan Mathews confirmed a Melbourne trip for Pounamu after last year’s G1 Kingston Town Classic winner resumed with a seventh in last Saturday’s Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m) at Belmont.

It was Pounamu’s first start since he filled minor placings behind Material Man in the Belmont Sprint, Hyperion Stakes and Strickland Stakes in June.

Scales Of Justice, the 2016 Railway Stakes winner, is recovering from spinal surgery and is unlikely to race again.

Trainer Lindsey Smith said Scales Of Justice suffered a back injury in Melbourne last spring and required the operation to relive spinal fusion.

Scales Of Justice has won nine of his 21 starts and earned $1.4 million.


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