Tips, suggested bets and feature race preview for the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington 12/09/2026.
Welcome to spring, with a good track and gorgeous weather after months of winter wet tracks. Rail goes back to the TRUE for the first time in a while, meaning the best ground should be closer to the fence and the racing pattern will probably just tend towards those well-drawn and on-speed and inside rail preferable for races down the straight.
Been an extremely ordinary spring so far for the tips and suggested bets and missing the bleeding obvious a few times. We have quite a few short priced favourites going around today, but we also have a lot more depth to some of these fields and likely to be some decent dividends today.
For Spring Campaign 2026 we won’t be posting tips till Saturday morning (earlier if time allows). Feature race preview at the bottom of this post.
BEST WIN: Race 5: 2-LITZDEEL $5 WIN
Quality staying mare and her both runs this time in have been really good, perfect sit last start and ran into the race to be run down from one that goes pretty well. Fitter for the two runs in, runs out the staying distance, yet to miss the place in four starts at Flemington and can lead or sit handy here in a race with very little speed, and not that much depth. Looks ready to win today and probably set for this race. Back straight out at around $4.
BEST EACH WAY: Race 3: 5-GIN TWIST $2 EW
QUINELLA Race 3: 2,3,4,5,10 boxed x $5 = 50%
This is always a very open race down the straight, but think this one is ready to do something first-up. Jump outs have been impressive coming into this and she can jump and go to the lead here and closer to the rails may be the best ground down the straight. Back each way at around $8 and value quinella in an open race with the 4-CALAMARI RING who was really good first-up at Sandown, the classy 2-SANTONO GLOW who would go on top if she hadn’t drawn the outside barrier, the 3-VERZAIN drawn closer to the rails and on-speed and the other inside barrier and on-speed horse the roughie 10-I AM ARIA.
BEST EACH WAY: Race 4: 8-ORGANISED CRIME $4 EW
QUINELLA Race 4: 1,4,6,8 boxed x $3 = 50%
Small field here but plenty of chances and we really like the run of this one last start when he came out and chased hard against an all the way winner to only just fail to get him on the line. That was the 2-HARD KICK and think down the Flemington straight this one can beat him home today. Most of these have shown they have some ability, but keen to see what this one can do with the additional race experience and may be suited down the straight. Back each way at around $10 and box up a quinella with the 4-BUGGSY leading which may be the best ground and looks value, the 1-PARADOXIUM who is the one with form in harder races and the flashy 6-MBUBE, but most of these go pretty well.
BEST EACH WAY: Race 6: 11-WELCOMETOTHESHOW $4 EW
One we follow and think he is ready to win today. Unexpectedly good run first-up when he poked up along the rails and was only just grabbed in the last few strides by one down the middle of the track and then set a fair task second-up to go a NSW country cup, drawn wide, dropped back, raced wide and made really good ground late. Fitter for the two runs in and he rapidly improved last campaign winning four races in a row and good chance he is going to go on this spring and win a pretty decent race. Drawn well so he can hopefully settle more forward today and importantly he is a strong finisher and there is a stack of speed in this race. Each way at around $11.
BEST EACH WAY: Race 9: 1-SALTY PEARL $4 EW
We do tend to tip and back this back this mare a fair bit, but she is very genuine and just about always in the finish. Fantastic run first-up when she was a bit slowly away and ended up at the back of the field and made good ground along the rails which was the best going. Up in distance and firm tracks are a plus and she is more consistent than many of these and proven time and time again at this level. Would just love to see a more positive ride and have here in a pouncing position on the turn. Each way at around $6.
BEST ROUGH: Race 10: 10-ASVA $2 EW
Looks a really open race at the end of the day and most of these are early on in their preparations and not at their best. This one was good first-up here in a small field and then doubt the heavy track suited last start at Sandown. Consistent on-speed Tasmanian form and should be ready to do something now with the two runs this time in. Mainly interested because he is drawn well and will go forward in a race with little speed. Rough at $26 and probably longer come race time.
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 3:14 OVER EXCITED at around $4
This race can often throw up some value winners and this one is currently favourite coming off an impressive wet track Geelong maiden debut. Many of these have done similar though and she is up against horses who are proven at a much better level. Drawn widest and she will drop back which may not be the racing pattern down the straight. Prefer to look for more value in this race and risking.
TURF DELI WONDER BET: Here we try and turn $5 into a spring betting bank
TRIFECTA Race 5: 2-LITZDEEL / 5-GRAND PIERRO / 1,3,4,6,10 x $2.50 = 50%
TRIFECTA Race 5: 2-LITZDEEL / 1,3,4,6,10 / 5-GRAND PIERRO x $2.50 = 50%
Although we are keen on the 2-LITZDEEL as the best bet of the day today, suspect the roughie 5-GRAND PIERRO may run a race at odds here as he needs distance and a firm track and there isn’t much depth to these race. So take a trifecta with the top pick the win and the roughie to run a place and rotate.
SUGGESTED QUADDIE:
Races 7,8,9,10: 5,9,13 / 1,4,12 / 1,4,8 / 6,8,10,13,14,15 x $20 = 12.3%
We will need to get one or more of the favourites beaten here on the way to the last leg where there is a good chance of a value winner so go wide.
Feature Race Preview: RACE 8: MAKYBE DIVA STAKES 1600M GROUP 1 WFA
Standard early spring feature WFA race here, we don’t have any clear cut leader and whilst the 3-LIGHT INFANTRY MAN can lead, will they be brave enough to let him run along this early in his campaign? The 1-MR BRIGHTSIDE gets the perfect stalking position with the 10-TREASURETHE MOMENT and the 8-AUTUMN BOY just behind these. Maybe be a little wary if the track is favouring those on-speed and close to the rails, these ones up front are going to get a pretty cosy run in this.
Runner by Runner comments:
1-MR BRIGHTSIDE went around at $21 in the Memsie Stakes last start – how on earth did punters let that happen? Proven time and time again, season after season and year after year and yet punters dropped off in an instant (including us!). Coming off an injury break and he is starting to get on in age, but he is one of the most reliable betting propositions going around. Won this race in 2025 (W=$5), 2024 (W=$3.50) and 2023 (W=$1.85) across a range of track conditions, we simply don’t get a more reliable and versatile horse. Jumped second on-speed behind an all the way winner last start, but he still managed to hold off the rest of the field to run second. Little speed here and likely to get the perfect sit and the stalking spot he loves again. Will improve a lot off the last run and right in this and strong chance to win four years in a row. Hard to beat.
2-HALF YOURS took spring by storm last spring winning the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, but he had a below expectations QLD campaign being beaten at $3.80, $4.40 and $2.35, ridden very quietly in most of those races, but not really even getting remotely warm into the finish. Unlikely to be very forward here with major spring targets ahead. This will just be a warm-up lap over 1600M but likely to be hitting the line hard and hopefully we will see a return to his best staying form this spring. Not today.
3-LIGHT INFANTRY MAN runs his best races here at Flemington (won 3 from 5, including two Australian Cups), and plugged away OK on the speed first-up at Caulfield. Lots of improvement to come from that run and his best runs are making long sustained runs on-speed on dry tracks. Not much speed here and likely to get a perfect run on-speed, but will they be willing to let him run along this early in the campaign? Will get a good run here and needs to be respected, but probably more of a good value place chance as he can take a few runs in each time to find his best form. Place.
4-SIR DELIUS has got a stack of talent and ability and his win in the Turnbull here last year was outstanding before his Cups campaign got sideswiped. Showed he still had it with the Queen Elizabeth win last time in. Had a few trials coming into this, so question is how forward is he for this first-up run? Trials looked good and he is well in the betting market for this. He can sit midfield or better here, but would still probably want them to run along a bit as he is likely to need a genuinely run race over this distance. Strong chance.
5-BUCKAROO SCRATCHED
6-BIRDMAN SCRATCHED
7-ANOTHER WIL seems to have gone off the boil a bit the last few preparations and even on his best form he would be taking on another level here. Can totally write off that first-up run, he was slowly away and out the back of the field and the leader dawdled in front and ran away with the race. Dry track is a plus, but he is likely to drop back here off a slow tempo and whilst he is probably likely to run a lot better than his first-up run, he still looks well held here. No.
8-AUTUMN BOY was a top line 3YO, but he didn’t really show much first-up last start at Caulfield, when he was lacking fitness so expect some major improvement here. Well drawn and can jump and run and settle handy in this, but would still like to see him again after that first-up run and maybe wait until he shows some form before getting on this spring. Place only.
9-AELIANA SCRATCHED
10-TREASURETHE MOMENT is a bit hit and miss and she is proving to be a bit hard to catch. Best form is on-speed and when she is on her game she is dominant, but she seems to put in a lot of just even runs in between the oustanding ones. Well drawn, on-speed and improvement off the first-up run, which again was just fair, and thought considering it was a leader dominated race there she would figure more in the finish. She has been beaten at $1.50, $1.60, $1.90 previously and seems pretty soft in the market today at $13. Prefer to see her in her best form before getting on again. Place best.
11-SHE’S A HUSTLER is a staying mare who is not up to the class of these. Good trial win leading into this, she can jump and race handy but over this distance suspect she will settle further back in the field and she is looking for longer distances and a few runs in. Passing.
12-SHEZA ALIBI is the short-priced favourite here and has major wow factor about her, with some astonishing wins such as the Doncaster earlier this year (when she did carry 49kgs and today is WFA). Weaved through the pack first-up in Sydney and hit the line strongly. She has got herself trapped back in the field a few times, inside horses and on the rails, and looked to be in serious trouble, but she has such an amazing turn of foot she can get herself out of those situations – but it’s not as easy to do at Group 1 WFA. Would prefer a stronger tempo here as she will settle back in the field. Would have to be brave to take on a mare on an upward career path like her, but there are a few possible niggles today, short odds, slow tempo, settling back, just seems a lot of risk to take – but she is absolutely flying. Strong chance.
13-OHOPE WINS is the ATC Oaks winner going into her 4YO season and always a bit hit and miss about which of these go on. Didn’t show much first-up and has won a jump out since. Hard to see her being competitive at this level and likely to drop well back here. No.
Summary:
Looking a pretty tactical race here and really not much between the proven time and time again 1-MR BRIGHTSIDE settling in the perfect on-speed location, the proven and classy 4-SIR DELIUS who we need to line up how forward he is first-up and if the 1600M may be a little short for him today and flying 12-SHEZA ALIBI who at some stage in the straight is probably going to look in a bit of strife at the back of the field looking for runs off the slow tempo. To be honest we are kicking ourselves for dropping off 1-MR BRIGHTSIDE last start and at odds of $8 he just looks too good to go past today looking for his fourth win in this race in a row, but without any luck issues the 12-SHEZA ALIBI will win this, from the 4-SIR DELIUS next best. Best rough place is the 3-LIGHT INFANTRY MAN. Great race to watch and probably just something each-way on the top pick for an interest bet.
Race 1: 3-MARKDEL, 5-NAVAL ACADEMY, 4-MOBY DICK
Race 2: 12-SOMETHINGS BURNIN’, 4-BIG WIGS, 2-DIAMETER
Race 3: 5-GIN TWIST, 4-CALAMARI RING, 2-SANTONO GLOW
Race 4: 8-ORGANISED CRIME, 4-BUGGSY, 1-PARADOXIUM
Race 5: 2-LITZDEEL, 6-SHOCKLETZ, 5-GRAND PIERRO
Race 6: 11-WELCOMETOTHESHOW, 8-SASS APPEAL, 9-AZTEC RULER
Race 7: 5-OLIVEANOTHERDAY, 13-LOSESOMEWINMORE, 9-RECON
Race 8: 1-MR BRIGHTSIDE, 12-SHEZA ALIBI, 4-SIR DELIUS
Race 9: 1-SALTY PEARL, 4-GOLD COAST BELLE, 8-ON DISPLAY
Race 10: 10-ASVA, 13-STORM LEOPARD, 8-SUNTORA
