New weight for age star Dissident made it back to back Group 1 wins with a narrow victory in the $400,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington today.

Dissident wins back to back Group 1s in the Makybe Diva Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia

Winning jockey Ben Melham gave Dissident a perfect ride and he stuck with the leader Messene to the home turn before surging to the front and holding all challengers.

Runner up, 2013 Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner ($10), had plenty of time to run down the Peter Moody trained Dissident ($2.70 favourite) while the big grey Puissance De Lune ($7) also had a clear run down the straight before finishing in third spot.

Dissident in very prominent in the market order for the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25, but Moody’s racing manager Jeff O’Connor said that a decision would have to be made if the Sebring stallion will be tested beyond 1600m this campaign.

Melham and Dissident combined last start to take out the Group 1 $400,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield two weeks ago while Dissident was also a Group 1 winner in his three year season when he won the Group 1 $600,000 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

“It’s the second Group 1 that he’s won at this trip where he’s had to tough it out, the Randwick Guineas and then today. He never gives up and he had a good one hunting him down,” O’Connor said.

“Looking at the race I don’t think we learned a lot about him if he as a Cox Plate horse or is he going to be more effective at a mile.”

“Definitely Pete (Moody) has to have a good think about it if he can train the horse to run the trip.”

“He’s got that turn of foot when he needs it.”

Fawkner showed that he is on track for another good Spring Carnival after having won the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield last year.