Spring action is heating up with the running of Flemington's opening G1 of the new season, the Makybe Diva Stakes - and what a field we have assembled for this famous WFA mile.
Proudly stepping out with the No 1 saddlecloth is the people's horse, the one and only Mr Brightside, as he attempts to build on his history making three-peat in the race last year.
Only two horses, the great mare Chicquita (1950-51) and the Hall Of Famer Sailor's Guide (1956-57) stood as dual winners of this heavyweight contest through the decades, until the remarkable Mr B surpassed them in 2025!
The race that was known as the Craiglee Stakes until 2006 has an honour roll that features many of the greats.
Inaugurated by the VRC in 1947 and named after the Sunbury residence of the club's longtime Chairman of Stewards (1924-45), Wilfred Henry Johnston, the first Craiglee Stakes was won by the stallion Lungi.
He was a well bred fellow who also won the traditional leadup the Memsie Stakes, and like many topliners before and since, his pedigree traced to the great NZ matriarch Eulogy.
Until 1964 the race was run at a mile and a quarter (2000m), during which time it was won by turf greats Comic Court, Lord and Aquanita.
Bart's champion mare Light Fingers kicked off its reinvention as a battle over Flemington’s famous mile course in 1965, and she was followed by the likes of Tobin Bronze, Lowland, Rain Lover, Dual Choice, Tontonan, How Now, Ming Dynasty, Family Of Man and the immortal Dulcify to name a few.
During the 1980s the crowds at fabulous Flemington thrilled to the victories of Sovereign Red, Rose Of Kingston, Military Plume and mighty Zabeel, who ushered in the ‘90s era.
Durbridge, Mannerism, Mahogany, Jeune, Saleous and Sky Heights were some notable winners through the ‘90s until the legendary West Australian, Northerly, stormed to victory in 2000.
In the last decade and a half we've admired feats of Pompeii Ruler, Weekend Hussler, Shocking, Southern Speed, Lloyd William's memorable grey Fawkner, Humidor, Incentivise and I'm Thunderstruck among others - until Mr Brightside first made the race his own in 2023.
After the retirement of the undisputed Queen of Flemington, Makybe Diva, the VRC named this race for her in 2007.
It attained G1 status in 2013, but truth be told it has never lacked for elite quality and has always been a major stepping stone towards the southern Spring’s ultimate glories, the Cox Plate and the Cups.
In 2026 the field is, without hyperbole, one of the very best we've seen in recent years!
With the scratching of star mare and last year's runner up Aeliana, the Waller camp will saddle up four runners - and in something of an unusual turn of events not one of them is likely to go to post under double figure odds.
Some support is there for Autumn Boy, but it would be hard to find a big punter brave enough to back him to beat the budding champion he keeps running into, Sheza Alibi, who is the hot favourite.
Her greatest danger appears to loom in the impressive form of the Frankel stallion Sir Delius, resuming for Gai and Adrian after his fantastic win in the G1 QE Stakes over Lindermann and Autumn Glow in what was the best race of the Sydney carnival.
More or less robbed of his opportunity to contest last year's Cox Plate / Melbourne Cup for which he was favourite, the big boy's back - and on a mission!
Apart from 10 x G1 winner and 11 x G1 runner up Mr Brightside for Team Hayes, the field of 12 also boasts last season's rare Cups double champion Half Yours for the McEvoys; Ciaron Maher's G1 Australian Cup hero Light Infantry Man who loves Flemington and has the coveted rails draw; and his stablemate Another Wil - back up to a mile after contesting the big sprints in Brisbane during winter.
Waller duo Buckaroo, who ran the race of his life when runner up in last year's Cox Plate, and the reigning Doomben Cup hero Birdman, are two tough and talented turf warriors - not to be underestimated.
A trio of very classy mares round out the Makybe Diva field, headed by 4 x G1 winner Treasurethe Moment for Matt Laurie, who is proven at WFA and was a good fourth in the Memsie
More than fancy stayers She's A Hustler for wily conditioner Grahame Begg and Ohope Wins for Waller are aiming at the Cups and will go around at cricket score odds - but are more than capable of running top four should things work out their way.
Sometimes horse races don't go to script as we all know, even when great horses are involved!
100/1 pop Gatting sent punters reeling in 2019 when he came off a lacklustre fifth in a Perth winter sprint to defeat the G1 Australian Guineas / All Star Mile winning mare Mystic Journey.
16/1 Humidor thrashed the duelling favourites Hartnell and Black Heart Bart in 2017 by three and a half lengths!
Chris Waller's 14/1 hope Foreteller got the nod in a thriller over unbackable fave Puissance De Lune in 2013, with 100/1 bolter Moudre third ( he was third the year before when 50/1).
Littorio was 40/1 when he won in 2011 over the well fancied grey Glass Harmonium, with 80/1 shot Midas Touch a half head away in third (Littorio himself had run third at 100/1 three years earlier!)
In 2010 16/1 Shocking comfortably defeated fave Heart Of Dreams, and eight year old Hugs Dancer at 25/1 upset the champ Elvstroem in 2004.
And so it goes. In recent years So Si Bon, Sir Dragonet, Mr Quickie and Jon Snow have all placed at very juicy odds.
What do the racing gods have in store for us on Saturday?
