About the race
The Crown Makybe Diva Stakes is a Group 1 weight-for-age race over 1600m at Flemington for three-year-olds and upwards, staged by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC). The VRC says the meeting opens its Group 1 season at Flemington. According to the VRC, the race was first run on 18 September 1948 as the Craiglee Stakes and has been a Group 1 since 2013. It is named after Makybe Diva, winner of the Melbourne Cup in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
The 2025 running, on 13 September with prize money of $750,000, was won by Mr Brightside (NZ), ridden by Craig Williams and trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, from Aeliana and Via Sistina. The IFHA rated it at 120.00, 26th in its list of the world’s top 100 Group 1 races of 2025. The 2026 running on 12 September went to Sheza Alibi, ridden by Luke Nolen for Peter G Moody and Katherine Coleman.
The 2025 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 September 2025 | Mr Brightside (NZ) | Craig Williams | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | n/v |
From the official result.
The 2026 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 September 2026 | Sheza Alibi | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | F C Noffke |
From the official result.
Recognition and facts
- Race day
- Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day, Flemington
- Former name
- Craiglee Stakes (VRC)
- Group 1 since
- 2013 (VRC)
- 2026 winner's owner
- F C Noffke (VRC Group 1 Honour Board)
Questions readers ask
When is the Crown Makybe Diva Stakes run?
In September at Flemington. The 2025 running was on Saturday 13 September 2025 and the 2026 running on Saturday 12 September 2026. No 2027 date was found on the VRC website on 12 October 2026.
What is the prize fund of the Crown Makybe Diva Stakes?
$750,000 (Australian dollars) in 2025 and in 2026, according to the VRC.
Who won the Crown Makybe Diva Stakes in 2025?
Mr Brightside (NZ), ridden by Craig Williams and trained by Ben, Will & JD Hayes, on 13 September 2025.
Sources
The rank and rating are from the IFHA's LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025, published 21 January 2026, which ranks races by the ratings of their first four finishers. Other facts are from the pages listed below.
- IFHA: LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025 (published 21 January 2026)
- VRC Group 1 Honour Board
- VRC: Mr Brightside chases history on Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day at Flemington (10 September 2026)
- VRC: Stars set to shine at Flemington on Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day (11 September 2025)
- VRC Inside Run: Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day 2025 race schedule and results