Mind you, it does seem accurate – this renewal of the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington is a ‘real’ Group 1.
Australia’s new darling of the track – MYSTIC JOURNEY – plus several multiple Group 1 winners and young rising stars of the turf are involved.
Early Spring star SCALES OF JUSTICE is out to his favourite trip of 1600-metres, while the exciting SA Derby winner, MR QUICKIE, is resuming.
YUCATAN, possibly the biggest mystery horse in Australia, is another resuming with a huge question mark surrounding his credentials.
This UK import had an impressive record in Europe before coming to Australia where on debut he scored an amazing runaway win in the Group 2 Herbert Power at Caulfield.
Off the back of that effort he went straight into the Melbourne Cup, started the $6.00 favourite but battled to run 11th behind UK raider Cross Counter.
This six-year-old son of the world’s premier sire Galileo is owned by Nick and Lloyd Williams and potentially could be one of the best stayers in the world.
On exposed form we simply don’t know, but the vibe is strong.
GAILO CHOP is another outstanding galloper resuming after injury.
He hasn’t been seen since having a stellar Sydney autumn carnival where he won the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes and finished a brave second to the mighty Winx in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth.
New trainer Matthew Williams has twice taken him to Cranbourne for searching trials which he has won, the latter by an impressive 12-lengths.
Former quality UK stayer, ROSTROPOVICH, now with Team Hayes, is another exciting galloper.
He hasn’t been seen in Australia since running a huge fifth in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
Hayes then took him to Hong Kong for the International meeting in December where he finished midfield in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase over 2400-metres.
ROSTROPOVICH, a son of the great Frankel, will be having just his 16th race start in this race and should be physically at his peak, now a five-year-old.
OOHOOD and QAFILA are young high-class mares looking to stamp some authority on this race, while emerging gallopers KINGS WILL DREAM and NIGHT’S WATCH both bear watching.
Throw in WA’s highly credentialed GATTING, already the winner of 10 races and almost $1.5 million in stakes, and this Makybe Diva Stakes is a very serious race.
We thought MYSTIC JOURNEY was a good thing when she resumed in the Group 2 P. B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield three weeks ago.
Now she steps out to 1600-metres at which she is unbeaten three from three, and at Flemington where she is unbeaten and at this distance two from two.
While she is again our first pick in the race, TABCORP’S quote of $2.15 seems too short for mine.
The in-form SCALES OF JUSTICE ($5.00), winner of both the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes and Group 1 Memsie Stakes this Spring, looks the likely leader – a position he relishes at this trip.
HARTNELL ($13) is always competitive and he races well at this track, while the biggest question mark surrounds YUCATAN ($9.00).
He could do anything first-up, and given the easy win by his stable-mate, HOMESMAN, in last week’s Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley, betting moves on race-day could be most significant.
I like MYSTIC JOURNEY to beat SCALES OF JUSTICE, with the best two roughies being KINGS WILL DREAM and NIGHT’S WATCH.
Good luck!
