8 Horses to Follow from 2020 Makybe Diva Stakes Weekend

Mon 14th September 2020

2020 Makybe Diva Stakes Day was an action packed card of racing, with a few hot favourites going under, no doubt shaping the spring for some runners who performed above or below expectations. Here are a few to follow throughout spring…

Russian Camelot

It’d be a crime not to start with this fella at the top, what a run it was from the 2020 Cox Plate favourite. Drawn wide and caught five wide the trip, he did a power of work in the run and still only just went down to mile specialist Fierce Impact… first up, and well short of his best trip. Wow. Has been slashed from $11 into $6 in the 2020 Cox Plate and rightly so, could very well go undefeated for the rest of the spring.

Watch: Russian Camelot with a massive first up run, and also Master Of Wine working home strongly.

Master Of Wine

This Hawkes galloper also ran well, hitting the line strongly and showing good progression in a campaign geared towards the 2020 Caulfield Cup. I wasn’t as worried as some about his run in the Winx Stakes first up after being caught wide in a hot speed, and he’s come on here. Looks right on track to step up in the 2020 Turnbull Stake next outing, and on to the 2020 Caulfield Cup.

Doubtland

Another Hawkes runner here, who looked to be in the upper echelon of three-year-olds before the spring, but was brought back down to earth first up in the 2020 San Domenico.

Returned to form in a big way on Saturday, and now looks primed for a real tilt at the 2020 Caulfield Guineas, and can be followed with confidence.

Watch: Doubtland return to form winning the 2020 Danehill Stakes.

Rothfire

There were some doubting the Queensland form, but Rothfire answered all critics by capitalising on the mad tempo set by Hugh Bowman on hot favourite Farnan in the 2020 Run To The Rose.

Rothfire has been crunched into $2.70 favouritism for the 2020 Golden Rose (1400m), and is now the second favourite in The Everest at $6. Looks to have a big spring ahead of him.

Watch: Rothfire take out the 2020 Run To The Rose, with Ole Kirk flying home as behind him.

Ole Kirk

Also worth following out of the 2020 Run To The Rose is Ole Kirk, who flew home with the best closing sectionals in the race.

He’s on the improve and looks more than capable of capturing a Group 1 this spring, and I think he’ll be mighty hard to beat in the 2020 Caulfield Guineas, currently a $13 chance.

Mo’unga

This was one of the most visually impressive wins of the weekend (possibly only topped by one later in this article), with Mo’unga stepping up to Saturday grade with ease, nearly getting flattened in the straight but still being too good in the 2020 Dulcify Stakes.

Chris Waller is yet to commit to a major spring target with this galloper, but he certainly looks one to keep an eye on wherever he lands.

Watch: Mo’unga encounter plenty of interference in the straight but still get the job done in style.

Fituese

This talented mare got the job done against the highly fancied Masked Crusader, and you have to be a very good horse to claim that. This was a Benchmark 88, but with this level of performance, it’s reasonable to think she can take the step up to listed or Group level this preparation.

Watch: Fituese get the better of Masked Crusader.

Instant Celebrity

This flying filly lived up to her name on Saturday, instantly jumping into conversations about the 2020 Thousand Guineas with this breathtaking win. She’s been slashed into equal favouritism ($6) with Hungry Heart for that contest, and I’ll certainly be following her with interest.

Watch: Instant Celebrity fly home at Morphettville.

From Muswellbrook to the Melbourne Cup, Will is mad about all things racing and sport. Spent countless hours in the backyard as a child pretending to be Glenn McGrath, and has been known to get deadly late swing with a taped tennis ball.