#Makybe Diva Stakes

Australian racing is in rude health. It is almost in spite of itself. People are betting like never before, be that either lockdown driven or without a care for the use of the whip. Owners from one percenters to moguls are getting more in return for their fun or investment because of it, and breeders are riding a bloodstock boom that defies…

Sodashi, shown winning the Sapporo Kinen in her last start Aug. 22, returns in Sunday's Grade 1 Shuka Sho at Hanshin Racecourse. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association Oct. 15 (UPI) -- As American horse racing enters its pre-Breeders' Cup "calm before the storm" this weekend, the international contingent ably plugs the gap with the world's…

Verry Elleegant has won the Melbourne Cup to give trainer Chris Waller his first ever Cup victory after Kiwi jockey James McDonald piloted the horse to a perfect position before she exploded down the final straight to blow the field away. Verry Elleegant was positioned perfectly to make her run down the straight past the grandstand, shooting past…

Tips and best bets for racing around the country on Melbourne Cup day, including Flemington, Royal Randwick, Eagle Farm, Morphettville and Ascot on Tuesday, November 2. - Flemington preview and tips, Melbourne Cup day - Melbourne Cup runner-by-runner preview, tips and betting strategy - Eagle Farm preview and tips, Melbourne Cup day MELBOURNE CUP…

Dalaika, shown winning the Grade I Beverly D. at Churchill Downs, returns for the $1 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Sept. 9 (UPI) -- It's all about the turf in weekend horse racing with Kentucky Downs staging an extravaganza unmatched anywhere in North America short of the Breeders' Cup World…

Turnbull Stakes winner Incentivise and runner-up Young Werther are both in the Caulfield Cup field. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images Caulfield Cu p favourite Incentivise has eased in betting after a "scary" draw for the $5m feature. Incentivise, who drew barrier 20 but will jump from 18 after scratchings, was $1.90 with TAB before the draw…

It's a massive final day of the Flemington carnival with Champions day - featuring a trio of Group Ones - and the Punters Inside Run panel are looking to finish with a bang. Host Matt Campbell and form expert Mick Sharkie are expecting Nature Strip to bounce back from his Everest defeat in the Champions Sprint on Saturday. "He's the big speed…

Despite a strong push from Peter V'Landys and Racing NSW to try and encroach, with some levels of success, there is no denying that the Melbourne Spring Carnival is the place to be for the end of the year. The best horses, the best trainers and best jockeys want to be seen in Melbourne and want to win the big races in Melbourne. There is no denying…

With the new racing season underway we've put it to our stable of experts to lay their reputations on the line and hand out some predictions for the next 12 months, including their early selections for The Everest and Melbourne Cup plus what's the next'big thing' we've got to look forward to. THE NEXT BIG THING RAY THOMAS - Dylan Gibbons: The son…

Whether you find yourself in the Birdcage, a backyard, or rooftop bar this Spring Carnival - 'BossBook' has you covered with weekly previews, racing tips, style guides, and more. Use Code: BOSSBOOK when you signup and make your first deposit at BossBet. Australia's newest championship race day, Champions Stakes Day at Flemington looks like an…

He might not consistently wow punters like Anamoe or Zaaki, but for an eight-year-old, Cascadian still commands plenty of respect. He was far too good for his competitors in the Hill Stakes at Randwick, comfortably winning the $1 million Group 2 feature over 2000m by almost 3.5 lengths. When the $2.20 favourite Montefilia ran out of gas at the 300m…

Nature Strip - dynamic, dominant, brilliant, breathtaking. There were not enough superlatives to describe Nature Strip's virtuoso performance on racing's biggest stage to prove he is the world's best sprinter at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip defeated an elite field to score a famous win in the Group 1 King's Stand…

2. Wild Botanica battled on bravely at Rosehill last start in a genuinely run 1300m race against the older mares. The daughter of Spieth has been a handy pick up for Lee and Cherie Curtis and although she is giving away weight to most of her rivals, she brings genuine city-class benchmark form to the table. The same can't be said for many others…

Jockey Craig Newitt will ride Metropolitan Handicap winner No Compromise in wet conditions in Saturday's Caulfield Cup. Picture: AAP The jockey roundabout and La Nina could combine to break a six-year drought for jockey Craig Newitt in Saturday's $5m Caulfield Cup (2400m). Newitt has ridden 33 Group 1 winners but none at the highest level since he…

Part one of our Caulfield Guineas-week feature on Weekend Hussler certainly sparked a bit of (largely one-sided) debate around jockey Brad Rawiller's Winx-related quotes. For those who missed it, Rawiller claimed Weekend Hussler - at his peak - could have beaten Winx over a mile. "He wouldn't have beaten Winx over 2000m, no way. But over the…

Since the introduction of Group racing in Australia, only four horses have won six or more Group 1s in a single season. Three of those are legends of the sport - Kingston Town, Black Caviar and Winx - the other is the underrated superstar Weekend Hussler. The 2008 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year put together one of the most extraordinary…

Let's get the honesty session out of the way early. This is not a vintage Turnbull Stakes, and in truth is probably the most ordinary rendition this century. But it's still a Group 1 race, it's attracted a full field, and with many competing formlines it makes for a compelling betting race. The set weights and penalties format of the Turnbull also…

The Group 1 Underwood Stakes is run at Sandown on Sunday. Raced over 1800m at weight-for-age level, the Underwood is worth $1 million, with $600000 going to winning connections. We have only a small field of six runners in 2022, much the same as last year when Zaaki saluted in a field of five. See our guide below: Annabel Neasham / Jamie Kah…

Group 1 racing will head to Sandown on Sunday 25th September, with the running of the $1 million Underwood Stakes. The race will be contested under weight-for-age conditions over 1800m, and has been classified as a G1 event since 1979. The winning connections will take home $600000, with this year's favourite Zaaki taking out the 2021 edition of…

There is a push from within the Sydney training ranks to have the season's first juvenile races, the Breeders' Plate and Gimcrack Stakes, moved to Everest Day from next year. The proposal suggests delaying the start of the two-year-old season by two weeks will bolster the prestigious The TAB Everest meeting at Royal Randwick. Under the existing…

Zaaki winning last year's Underwood Stakes It's certainly a case of quality over quantity in this year's Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), with just six horses set to face the starter. The track was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday but should get close to the good range with fine weather forecast on Friday and raceday. Speed map, runner-by-runner…

You thought this column was dead and buried, but not to worry, Payney's Punt is back and we've got pockets that need filling up. Just like your local watering hole - that's pubs for you non-drinkers - hosting a members' draw jackpot that must go off, punters from far and wide will race to pick up the latest Payney's Punt. It's been a long time…

Melbourne will kick off their Spring Racing Carnival on Saturday 10th September, with the running of the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Formerly known as the Craiglee Stakes, the name was changed in 2007 to honour the legendary three-time Melbourne Cup winner. Incentivise took out the 2021 edition of the race, while other winners of the…

I'm Thunderstruck dominates the Ladbrokes.com.au market for the main race on Saturday, the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. The Price/Kent trained five year old was massive fresh in the Memsie when a closing second to Snapdancer and looks extremely well suited at the Flemington mile. Opened $2.35 and is rock solid, sitting…