The first Group 1 mile of the spring will take centre stage at Flemington on Saturday, with a high‑quality field assembling for the 2026 Makybe Diva Stakes.

Mr Brightside chases his fourth straight Makybe Diva Stakes victory in 2026. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The race traditionally signals the start of the serious weight‑for‑age contests in Melbourne, and this year’s edition brings together several of the country’s most recognisable middle‑distance performers.

One of the major storylines is the return of Mr Brightside, who last year became the first horse to win the Makybe Diva Stakes three times.

The Lindsay Park veteran, now a nine‑year‑old, resumes his Flemington mile campaign second‑up after a determined performance in the Memsie Stakes two weeks ago.

Despite a long break heading into that run, he travelled strongly on the speed and stuck on for a brave second behind runaway winner Beiwacht, showing he remains competitive at the elite level.

“I was thrilled,” Craig Williams said of Mr Brightside’s Memsie performance.

“Credit to his training combination of Ben, JD and Will Hayes and all the team around him, and what a phenomenal horse, he’s an amazing horse, he’s now run second in this race again, and what I really liked about his performance today, I thought the last part of the straight was better than the first part of the home straight so I think he’s only going to improve off today’s run.”

Saturday marks his 50th career start, and Blake Shinn takes over the ride with Craig Williams committed elsewhere.

Mr Brightside’s record at the Flemington mile has long been one of his trademarks, and his presence again adds significant weight to the meeting.

Sheza Alibi is of course the main danger and odds-on favourite out to stop the Mr B show.

The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman‑trained mare was one of the standout performers of last autumn, completing the Randwick Guineas–Doncaster Mile double and announcing herself as a genuine star of the mile division.

Her spring began with a strong second in the Winx Stakes, where she closed off powerfully behind Autumn Glow.

“Terrific,” jockey Luke Nolen told the media after her Winx run.

“We are in for a really good prep. She kept closing.

“The other mare (Autumn Glow)has had a few more pre-seasons than we have.

“She was a bit sharp for us today. She deserves to be in this company.”

Sheza Alibi now heads to Flemington fitter and stepping back to her preferred distance, and her only previous run at Headquarters resulted in a dominant victory in the Vanity last November.

Luke Nolen continues his association with the mare from barrier seven.

Sir Delius also resumes on Saturday, beginning a campaign aimed squarely at the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, run this year at Flemington with Moonee Valley undergoing a major redevelopment on Saturday October 24.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott‑trained entire enjoyed a productive autumn, placing in both the Verry Elleegant Stakes and Ranvet before producing a commanding victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

He arrives off two sharp Sydney trials that suggest he is ready to launch into another high‑level preparation.

Sir Delius is already a Group 1 winner at Flemington courtesy of last year’s Turnbull Stakes, though the mile remains the one distance he has yet to conquer.

Williams reunites with him for his first‑up run jumping off Mr Brightside in favour of the second elect in the markets at Ladbrokes.

With a host of proven Group 1 winners headlining the field and several emerging contenders also stepping out, the 2026 Makybe Diva Stakes promises to be a defining early‑spring contest.

Whether Mr Brightside can extend his extraordinary record, Sheza Alibi continues her rise, or Sir Delius signals Cox Plate intent, Saturday’s race is set to shape the make-up of the approaching spring majors.

The Makybe Diva Stakes will be run as Flemington Race 8 at 4:20pm (AEST) on Saturday’s ten‑race program.

2026 Makybe Diva Stakes Field & Barrier Draw