Chris Waller’s Australian Racehorse of the Year, Via Sistina, is nearing odds-on favouritism to collect her incredible 11th Group 1 trophy when she faces just five rivals in a diminutive but class 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes field at Flemington on Saturday.
Via Sistina is short favourite to collect her 11th Group 1 win in the 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Group 1 race, worth $750,000, is a traditional lead-up to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, a race Via Sistina blitzed by eight lengths last spring.
All the money in Makybe Diva Stakes betting at Ladbrokes is for the eight-year-old mare following her excellent return when winning the Group 1 Winx Stakes in Sydney.
Via Sistina is out to atone for her unplaced run in last year’s Makybe Diva Stakes, where she finished a distant fifth.
The mare, who has won both of her other Flemington assignments, will be ridden by James McDonald and is a firm favourite at $2.20.
Waller also saddles up the main danger in the race with his Australian Derby-winning filly Aeliana ($3.50).
She put in an eye-catching performance when finishing a close second to Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes and will be looking to turn the tables on her stablemate. She will be ridden by Damian Lane, who steered her to victory in the Derby.
The other Makybe Diva Stakes contenders are dual defending champion Mr Brightside ($5.50), Brisbane galloper Antino ($7.50), and All-Star Mile champ Tom Kitten ($11).
Mr Brightside, who is at one of his pet tracks, will be looking to make history by becoming the first horse to win the Makybe Diva Stakes three times.
Antino, who finished fifth in the Memsie Stakes, will be looking to improve, while Tom Kitten will be making his delayed return after being scratched at the gates in the Memsie Stakes.
The rank outsider is Kiwi raider Mark Twain ($100), who will be looking to cause a massive upset.
2025 Makybe Diva Stakes Field & Barriers
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 241x2120x2 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 1 | 59kg | 120 | ||
| 2 | 243x21573x | TOM KITTEN | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Ben Melham | 6 | 59kg | 116 | ||
| 3 | 3120x011x5 | ANTINO (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Blake Shinn | 4 | 59kg | 117 | ||
| 4 | 0x431231x8 | MARK TWAIN (NZ) | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | Jamie Mott | 3 | 59kg | 100 | ||
| 5 | 111x3111x1 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 2 | 57kg | 125 | ||
| 6 | 112x3421x2 | AELIANA (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 5 | 56.5kg | 111 |
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