Analysis: Michael Manley looks at the Makybe Diva Stakes field
HERALD Sun form analyst Michael Manley finds the favourite Black Heart Bart had to go past in the $500,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday.
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ALL hail the Bart man. Can he make it back-to-back Group 1s?
Herald Sun form analyst Michael Manley finds the favourite had to go past in the $500,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
EXPERT TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS
BEAT THE BOOKIE: VALUE BETS
THE EARLY OIL: FLEMINGTON
STABLE WATCH: INSIDE MAIL FOR ROSEHILL
THE FACTORS
Track: Good 3
Rail: True
Forecast: 16C Overcast, possible shower.
THE SPEED
Outsider AYERS ROCK likely to take up the running and set a good clip. JACQUINOT BAY and ENTIRELY PLATINUM should also take up forward positions. RISING ROMANCE will be handy to the speed and BLACK HEART BART should position up behind them with PALENTINO. If speed is on best finishers are ALPINE EAGLE and TARZINO.
GROUP 1 MAKYBE DIVA STAKES (1600m)
Race 7, Flemington, Saturday 4.10pm WFA
1 PRINCE OF PENZANCE 12 Darren Weir John Allen 59kg $51
2 HAPPY TRAILS 11 Paul Beshara Ben Melham 59kg $35
3 BLACK HEART BART 8 Darren Weir Damien Oliver 59kg $2.30
4 OUR IVANHOWE 7 Lee & Anthony Freedman Daniel Moor 59kg $13
5 JACQUINOT BAY 9 Team Hayes Nicholas Hall 59kg $21
6 ENTIRELY PLATINUM 15 Team Hawkes Dwayne Dunn 59kg $16
7 HE OR SHE 6 Team Hayes Craig Williams 59kg $17
8 ALPINE EAGLE 10 Tony McEvoy Luke Currie 59kg $14
9 TARZINO 4 Mick Price Craig Newitt 58.5kg $11
10 PALENTINO 5 Darren Weir Mark Zahra 58.5kg $6
11 AYERS ROCK 3 Shawn Mathrick Luke Nolen 58.5kg $151
12 RISING ROMANCE 2 Team Hayes Damian Lane 57kg $8
13 SOFIA ROSA 13 Stephen Marsh Ms Danielle Johnson 56.5kg $21
Odds: TAB
THE SKINNY
1 PRINCE OF PENZANCE
Slightly disappointing when resumed in the Memsie Stakes. Trainer Darren Weir wanted the Melbourne Cup winner ridden out the back and then finishing off well, but he made an early surge. Expect him out the back this time, but will find this too short.
2 HAPPY TRAILS
Hardy performer back for another year taking on the top level. Close-up fifth in this race last year and his trials in Adelaide have been sound but coming off a disappointing autumn campaign which is a concern.
3 BLACK HEART BART
Every start since he’s joined Weir’s stable has been superb. If anything looked better than ever when winning the Memsie first-up over 1400m at Caulfield and is nominally the No. 2 horse in the land. Only query is stepping up to 1600m, a distance he hasn’t won at before but with Weir polish shouldn’t be a problem.
4 OUR IVANHOWE
Imported stayer resuming after Group 1 win in the Doomben Cup. Usually races well fresh and has the class to be right in the finish.
5 JACQUINOT BAY
Veteran who arguably is in career best form. Luckless in last week’s Dato. Will push forward and, in an event where most will settle back, he’s going to give some cheek.
6 ENTIRELY PLATINUM
First-up run when third in the Lawrence Stakes suggests he’s back to his best. Close-up third in this race last year. Drawn out but likely to push forward.
7. HE OR SHE
Finished off in good style in the Memsie Stakes when six lengths astern of Black Heart Bart. Goes well second-up and likes 1600m at Flemington. WFA a query but capable of being the blowout winner.
8 ALPINE EAGLE
Another D-Day for this injury plagued but gifted galloper. Sat wide and finished off in useful style in the Memsie in good first-up effort. Unlucky sixth in this race last year when beaten less than a length after being trapped wide. Expect a big run.
9 TARZINO
Finished off with the fastest last 400m in the Memsie Stakes coming from a long last to finish eighth, just under seven lengths from Black Heart Bart. Second-up last time over 1600m at Flemington in the Australian Guineas he was just beaten by Palentino.
10 PALENTINO
Two runs back from a spell have been solid. Last time in he stuck to his guns when fifth in the Memsie. Has looked as if he had improvement to come from last start. Third-up last time in he won the Australian Guineas here.
11. AYERS ROCK
Not racing well and on ratings and form is completely outclassed. Defeated Tivaci to win over 1700m at Flemington last October when he set a fast clip. Likely to lead into the straight but not likely to stay there.
12. RISING ROMANCE
Top-line mare who looks set for another sound campaign judging on her first-up second to Black Heart Bart in the Memsie. Will be suited by a wet track.
13. SOFIA ROSA
Highly-rated Kiwi mare who was one of many who was out of her comfort zone in the fast-run Memsie. Extra distance will suit and grows a leg in the wet.
MANLEY’S TIPS
1 BLACK HEART BART
2 PALENTINO
3 RISING ROMANCE
4 TARZINO
Originally published as Analysis: Michael Manley looks at the Makybe Diva Stakes field
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