Bookies say Mr Brightside can complete high five in Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington
Mr Brightside will face some tough competition but bookmakers have installed the Lindsay Park star as the early favourite to notch another Group 1 win in Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
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Bookmakers had no hesitation installing Mr Brightside as a clear favourite to continue on his winning way in Saturday’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Mr Brightside has won his last four outings in a lucrative stretch of success that has earned connections more than $5.32m in stakes since March.
Mr Brightside started his spring campaign with a win in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield before racing throughout to record a tough victory in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.
Last Saturday’s Feehan Stakes underlined the strength of Mr Brightside’s form lines when runners that finished behind the gelding in the Lawrence Stakes filled five of the first six placings in The Valley’s feature.
TAB posted Mr Brightside as a $2.50 favourite in its ‘all-in’ betting on the Makybe Diva Stakes ahead of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Alligator Blood at $4.50.
Alligator Blood made a solid start to his spring when finishing less than a length from Mr Brightside in the Memsie Stakes after jumping from a wide barrier.
The seven-year-old was narrowly denied victory in last year’s Makybe Diva Stakes when the late I’m Thunderstruck grabbed the multiple Group 1 winner on the line.
However, Mr Brightside and Alligator Blood could face a challenge in the Makybe Diva Stakes if Perth trainer Simon Miller decides to alter plans with brilliant mare Amelia’s Jewel.
Amelia’s Jewel is scheduled to make her Melbourne debut against the mares in Saturday’s Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) but Miller has kept his options open with WA’s big spring hope.
TAB put Amelia’s Jewel on the fourth line of betting at $8 but has marked the mare as a doubtful starter.
Another mare, the Chris Waller-trained Princess Grace, is a $6 third favourite in early Makybe Diva Stakes betting after her terrific second in the Memsie Stakes.
The US-bred Princess Grace went within a long neck of ending Mr Brightside’s winning run in the Memsie Stakes but is a three-time winner over 1600m, including at Grade 3 level, in her homeland.
Princess Grace is one of seven Waller-trained entries among the 15 nominations for the $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes along with Winx Stakes winner Fangirl and Osipenko.
Last year’s Champions’ Stakes winner Zaaki is an $11 chance in Makybe Diva Stakes betting after his first-up third in the Winx Stakes.
Zaaki’s trainer Annabel Neasham has also nominated the nine-year-old for the $1m 7 Stakes (1600m) in Sydney but the gelding has won three of his four runs at Flemington.
The Makybe Diva Stakes field will be released on Wednesday morning.
MAKYBE DIVA STAKES BALLOT ORDER / WEIGHTS
MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) 59kg
ZAAKI (GB) 59kg
ALLIGATOR BLOOD 59kg
FANGIRL 57kg
SPANISH MISSION (USA) 59kg
PRINCESS GRACE (USA) 57kg
AMELIA’S JEWEL 56.5kg
GOING GLOBAL (IRE) 57kg
HINGED 57kg
MY OBERON (IRE) 59kg
LINDERMANN 58.5kg
FRANCESCO GUARDI (IRE )59kg
OSIPENKO (NZ) 58.5kg
DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) 59kg
AEGON (NZ) 59kg
Originally published as Bookies say Mr Brightside can complete high five in Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington
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