Godolphin’s Spring Carnival headliner Hartnell heads up a star studded list of eighteen nominations for the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Hartnell, above, heads up the nominations for the 2017 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride the James Cummings trained Hartnell in the Makybe Diva Stakes replacing Craig Williams who was aboard for the big bay’s first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 19.

Godolphin’s Melbourne representative David Charles said that on his P.B. Lawrence Stakes display, Hartnell was in for a very good Spring Carnival.

“He is an amazing adaptable horse and I am really looking forward to the rest of the Spring with him,” Charles said.

Also among the nominations is the Chris Waller trained Foxplay who is also entered in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday and is a chance to take on her glamour stablemate Winx again.

Foxplay almost brought off the upset of the 2017 Spring Carnival when she stretched Winx to the limit in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 19 but the Queen Of The Turf was able reel in the brave Foxplay in the shadows of the post to record her eighteenth straight victory.

Waller has also dual nominated Tom Melbourne for the Makybe Diva Stakes and the George Main Stakes.

The nominations for the Makybe Diva Stakes is loaded with Group 1 winners and as well as Hartnell and Foxplay, Group 1 winners Black Heart Bart, Gailo Chop, Hey Doc, Humidor, I Am A Star, Inference, Jon Snow, Le Romain, Ventura Storm, Single Gaze, Tavago, and Yankee Rose are also entered for the 1600m weight for age contest.

Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir is looking to having three runners, Black Heart Bart, Gailo Chop and Humidor while arch rivals from Lindsay Park, David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have nominated four, He Or She, Jacquinot Bay, Seaburge and European import Ventura Storm.

The Tony McEvoy trained Hey Doc will be returning to the scene of his biggest win when he lines up in the Makybe Diva Stakes after he won over the Flemington 1600m in claiming  his first Group 1 trophy with victory in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas during the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.

The 2017 Australian Derby winner Jon Snow will be better suited stepping up to the 1600m of the Makybe Diva Stakes after being beaten just over three lengths for a first up sixth to Vega Magic in the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 2.

Nominations for the 2017 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)