Only twice since 2003 has the favourite in the Makybe Diva Stakes gone on to win, so it seems fitting that the 2018 event sees a number of horses vying for that top billing. Join The Roar for live race updates and our ongoing blog from 4pm (AEST).
Kementari, Kings Will Dream and old favourite Humidor are the clubhouse leaders among punters so far, but when it comes to recent form, Humidor stands alone.
An underdog win at the Memsie Stakes in early September, despite question marks over his ability to go the distance of 1400m, shows the six-year-old gelding is still as good as ever, and having beaten out both of the other Makybe favourites in that race, the New Zealander remains a safe choice.
The same can’t be said of Kementari, however- despite plenty of close runs in recent times, the three-year-old has failed to record a victory in his last five starts while being consistently popular with pundits.
Admittedly, two of those races were against none other than Winx, but it is beginning to look a worrying trend for the colt. Another close loss might well add her to several punters’ “never again” list.
Kings Will Dream is more of a smoky – with fast finishes in the Lawrence and Memsie Stakes recently (finishing third in the latter), both over 1400m, there is a feeling the current Melbourne Cup favourite will relish the extra distance here.
The five-year-old looks perfectly placed to make Flemington his own in the next few months, and a stirring performance here could really establish him as the horse to beat on November 6.
With plenty of other contenders, though, the Stakes are by no means a three-horse race.
Happy Clapper has enjoyed success at Flemington before, Black Heart Bart produced an age-defying run at the Memise to finish only a length behind Humidor, while the presence of Lloyd Williams and a herculean effort at Mooney Valley recently while carrying 62.5kgs means The Taj Mahal is arguably the value bet of the race.
Prediction: 1. Kings Will Dream 2. Humidor 3. The Taj Mahal 4. Kementari
Join The Roar for live race updates and our rolling blog from 4:10pm (AEST), and be sure to leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Time: 4.10pm (AEST)
Racecourse: Flemington
Distance: 1600m
Prizemoney: $750,000
1. Happy Clapper (barrier 12) P. Webster- $8
2. Black Heart Bart (11) B. Rawiller- $21
3. Humidor (1) D. Lane- $4.20
4. Tosen Basil (2) J. Childs- $34
5. Jon Snow (4) S. Baster- $21
6. Comin’ Through (5) M. Walker- $11
7. Pounamu (3) B. Prebble- $34
8. Harlem (7) R. Bayliss- $61
9. The Taj Mahal (9) B. Melham- $21
10. Kings Will Dream (10) J. Allen- $4.50
11. Kementari (8) C. Williams- $4
12. Grunt (6) D. Oliver- $13
Tim Miller
Editor
Thanks for your company, Roarers! Here are the final results from the Makybe Diva Stakes: 1. Grunt 2. Kings Will Dream 3. Jon Snow 4. Kementari 5. Happy Clapper
Tim Miller
Editor
Unfortunate reports from the track that Happy Clapper was bleeding from both nostrils during the race. Fingers crossed.
Tim Miller
Editor
Well, it's one of those races that the favourite seldom wins, and so it was again this year, with Damien Oliver and Grunt coming home with a wet sail to take out the 2018 Makybe Diva Stakes! It's a fifth win in this race for Damien Oliver, whose reputation is only continuing to grow. It was Black Heart Bart who made the early pace before fading late, while Jon Snow was consistently hovering around the places. Humidor was around the back of the pack for the most part, while Kementari came home nicely but missed out on a place- both disappointments considering their billing heading in.
Tim Miller
Editor
Jon Snow in third, apologies.
Tim Miller
Editor
Jon Snow in fourth, then Kementari, then Happy Clapper. Disappointment for Humidor, last year's champ.
Tim Miller
Editor
Grunt with a barnstorming final 500 to take it out by three lengths! A fifth triumph at the Makybe for Damien Oliver. Kings Will Dream in second, photo for third.
Tim Miller
Editor
500 to go, Black Heart Bart still in the lead.
Tim Miller
Editor
Black Heart Bart in the lead at the first turn, followed by Happy Clapper and Jon Snow.
Tim Miller
Editor
And we're off! Jon Snow fastest out of the blocks- there's a Game of Thrones joke in there somewhere.
Tim Miller
Editor
The race is only a minutes away- any last-minute predictions, Roarers?
Tim Miller
Editor
G'day everyone, and welcome to The Roar's live blog of the Makybe Diva Stakes for 2018! A bit of a damp squib in Melbourne today, so conditions might be a bit damp underfoot at Flemington, but the rain has stayed away in the past few hours.