Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day

Prizemoney: $755,185

Weight-For-Age. Apprentices cannot claim.

Race first run: Saturday, 18th September, 1948

78th of Series

Race History

MAKYBE DIVA (GB) (Desert King (IRE) – Tugela (USA))

The historic weight-for-age Craiglee Stakes was renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes in 2007 to honour one of the greatest race mares to have graced the Australian turf. She is the only horse to have won three Melbourne Cups, which she did in succession in 2003 (trained by David Hall), in 2004 and 2005 (trained by Lee Freedman), ridden each time by Glen Boss. Her 15 career wins include a Sydney Cup, Australian Cup, Turnbull Stakes and WS Cox Plate. Twice Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, she is a Legend in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

Prizemoney: $304,485

Mares Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.

Registered name: Milady Stakes

40th of Series

Race History

LET’S ELOPE (NZ) (Nassipour (USA) – Sharon Jane (NZ))

Let’s Elope in 1991 became the second mare to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double. New Zealand bred, she gave Bart Cummings his ninth (of twelve) Melbourne Cup successes as trainer. She won 11 races including seven successive Group races in Melbourne in the 1991/92 racing season concluding with the 1992 Australian Cup in record time. Her later career took her to the USA where she was placed three times in Grade 1 events She returned to stud in Victoria, producing multiple Group 1 placegetter, Ustinov, and 2014 Adelaide Cup winner, Outback Joe.

Prizemoney: $304,485

4YO & Upwards Quality Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.

52nd of Series

Race History

BOBBIE LEWIS (1878–1947)

Robert (Bob or Bobbie) Lewis was the first jockey to win four Melbourne Cups, a record matched only in the 1970s by Harry White. His long riding career extended for 46 years from his first race in 1892, at Clunes, Victoria, to 1936. His Cup winners were The Victory (1902), Patrobas (1915), Artilleryman (1919) and Trivalve (1927). He had 33 rides in the Cup, scoring five additional minor placings including on Phar Lap in 1929. He enjoyed a long, successful association with champion trainer James Scobie, winning the Victoria Derby eight times and the VRC Oaks seven times.

Prizemoney: $304,385

Quality Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.

Registered name: Hotham Handicap

Golden Ticket Race: The winner of this race is exempt from ballot for the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup

157th of Series

Race History

ARCHER (William Tell (GB) – Maid Of The Oaks)

The Sydney champion racehorse Archer was where the Melbourne Cup story began. He came – by ship – from New South Wales to win both the first and the second Melbourne Cups, 1861 and 1862. Trained by Etienne de Mestre, ridden by John ‘Cutts’ Dillon, twice he beat the local hope, Mormon. Today’s race began its long history as the Hotham Handicap in 1869, named to honour Sir Charles Hotham (1806–1855), the controversial Governor of Victoria, in office at the time of the Eureka rebellion at Ballarat. The Hotham, now the Archer, has been a traditional lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup, furnishing many winners. 

Prizemoney: $177,425

4YO & Upwards Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.

Race History

TONTONAN (Showdown (GB) – Forego)

‘Tontonan’ means ‘Show’ in Indonesian. This champion was named as a foal by Indonesian President Suharto visiting the horse’s birthplace, VRC Committeeman Ken Cox’s Stockwell Stud, Victoria in 1972. At two, Tontonan won the Golden Slipper and AJC Sires’ Produce. At three he won the Oakleigh Plate (Caulfield), Ajax Stakes, Doncaster Handicap and All Aged Stakes (Sydney), and Delaney Quality (Eagle Farm). At four Tontonan won the Feehan Stakes (Moonee Valley) and Craiglee Stakes at Flemington. Trained by Bart Cummings, the bay gelding was ridden by Roy Higgins for 12 wins, two placings, from 16 starts. 

Prizemoney: $177,085

3YO Fillies Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.

Race History

CAP D’ANTIBES (Better Boy (IRE) – Tereus)

The three-year-old filly Cap d’Antibes proved herself to be versatile and unstoppable at Flemington in the autumn of 1975. The previous spring she had won 1974 AJC Flight Sakes at Randwick, finished third in the 1974 VRC Oaks and second in the Sandown Guineas. Now she put together a unique Flemington treble, the Lightning Stakes (1000m), Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and the AV Kewney Stakes (2000m). Taras Bulba defeated her in the Australasian Champion Stakes in Sydney. At four years she won the Invitation Stakes at Caulfield and was second in the AJC Epsom Handicap.

Prizemoney: $177,035

3YO Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.

Prizemoney: $176,785

3YO Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.

Race History

POSEIDON (Positano (GB) – Jacinth)

Named for the Ancient Greek god of the sea, earthquakes and horses, this Australian-bred champion, foaled in New South Wales in 1903, had a brief earth-shattering turf career. His dam Jacinth was a daughter of 1883 Melbourne Cup winner Martini-Henry and granddaughter of 1877 winner Chester. After one win at two years, Poseidon at three won 11 of 14 starts including two Derbys, the 1906 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and two St Legers. He won another 7 races at four years, including a second Caulfield Cup and the VRC Melbourne Stakes. Poseidon is in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

Prizemoney: $150,000

Open Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.

Prizemoney: $80,000

Benchmark 78 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.