Sheza Alibi Meets Established Stars

A compelling collision between an emerging mare and some of Australia's most accomplished weight-for-age performers gives Saturday's Gr1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) considerably more depth than the market might initially suggest. Sheza Alibi heads to Flemington second-up after finishing behind Autumn Glow on her return, and from barrier seven Luke Nolen should have the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained mare in a position to produce her best without surrendering excessive ground. The market has installed her around $1.70, but the mile at weight-for-age presents a sterner examination against seasoned campaigners than her price implies. Mr Brightside needs no introduction to this race. The Hayes stable veteran has already won the Makybe Diva Stakes three times and his first-up second to Beiwacht in the Gr1 Memsie Stakes demonstrated that age has done little to diminish his competitive instinct. Barrier two and Blake Shinn provide every opportunity for another economical run and, if the race becomes tactical, his familiarity with Flemington and extraordinary consistency make him extremely difficult to dismiss. Sir Delius is the intriguing improver. The Waterhouse-Bott import has barrier nine and Craig Williams, with his longer-range spring ambitions suggesting the 1600m may still be short of his eventual optimum, yet his class makes him dangerous even before he reaches peak fitness. Treasurethe Moment returns to Flemington with Damian Lane and remains one of the field's most talented mares, while Light Infantry Man draws the inside and is capable of improving sharply from his resuming effort. Chris Waller supplies numerical strength through Buckaroo, Birdman, Autumn Boy, Aeliana and Ohope Wins, while Melbourne Cup hero Half Yours begins another campaign from barrier 12 after strong trials. Aeliana is particularly interesting if she takes the necessary step second-up, and Buckaroo's late work first-up suggested he is progressing towards the distances at which he is most effective. The race may ultimately hinge on where Sheza Alibi lands relative to Mr Brightside. If she can travel within striking distance and reproduce the finish that established her among the country's leading mares, she deserves favouritism, but defeating Mr Brightside over the Flemington mile is rarely straightforward. There is also considerable appeal in Sir Delius as the horse most likely to expose any weakness in the favourite should the tempo become searching. In a race named after one of the great mares, Sheza Alibi has the opportunity to confirm that she belongs permanently among Australia's weight-for-age elite. Suggested Top Four: 1. Sheza Alibi 2. Mr Brightside 3. Sir Delius 4. Treasurethe Moment