Few races on the Australian spring calendar can match the history of the Makybe Diva Stakes.
Held at Flemington over 1600 metres, the Group 1 weight-for-age feature has been won by some of the country’s most accomplished racehorses.
While the event is now known as the Makybe Diva Stakes, its history stretches back to 1948, when it was first run as the Craiglee Stakes, and we look at the Makybe Diva Stakes past winners.
Recent Makybe Diva Stakes Winners
The Makybe Diva Stakes has produced some quality winners over the last 20 years, including three-time champion Mr Brightside
Here are the last 20 Makybe Diva Stakes winners:
- 2025 – Mr Brightside
- 2024 – Mr Brightside
- 2023 – Mr Brightside
- 2022 – I’m Thunderstruck
- 2021 – Incentivise
- 2020 – Fierce Impact
- 2019 – Gatting
- 2018 – Grunt
- 2017 – Humidor
- 2016 – Palentino
- 2015 – Fawkner
- 2014 – Dissident
- 2013 – Foreteller
- 2012 – Southern Speed
- 2011 – Littorio
- 2010 – Shocking
- 2009 – Vigor
- 2008 – Weekend Hustler
- 2007 – Marasco
- 2006 – Pompeii Ruler
- 2005 – Confectioner
The history of the race shows that horses capable of stretching beyond a mile have often performed particularly well.
Northerly is a perfect example. After winning the race in 2002, he went on to win both the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate that spring, highlighting just how important the Makybe Diva Stakes can be as a lead-up to the major Melbourne races.
Shocking provides another famous example from the modern era. His 2010 victory was followed by success in the Melbourne Cup later that year, while Incentivise won the Makybe Diva Stakes in 2021 before winning the Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup.
Makybe Diva Stakes past winners are packed with champions, so it’s a race they all want to win.
Notable Makybe Diva Stakes Winners
Comic Court won in 1949, just a year after the inaugural running, before going on to enjoy a distinguished career that included victory in the 1950 Melbourne Cup.
The 1960s produced another group of exceptional winners. Light Fingers captured the race in 1965 before becoming a Melbourne Cup heroine later that year, while Tobin Bronze was victorious in 1966. Rain Lover added the race to his record in 1969.
Another outstanding winner was Zabeel, who scored in 1990. Zabeel was also a high-class racehorse and became one of the most important sires.
Mannerism won in 1993, followed by Mahogany in 1994 and Jeune in 1995. They are some of the most famous names in the sport, so the Makybe Diva Stakes past winners’ list includes some historical champions.
Makybe Diva Stakes History
The Makybe Diva Stakes is a major feature of the early Melbourne Spring Carnival, attracting some of the country’s leading gallopers to Flemington.
The race has been a fixture of Australian racing for more than seven decades. It was first run in 1948 under the name Craiglee Stakes and was initially contested over 2000 metres. The distance was changed to the current 1600 metres in 1965.
The event was renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes in 2007 in honour of the legendary mare who won three consecutive Melbourne Cups. It was elevated from Group 2 to Group 1 status in 2013.