The 2026 GROUP 1 Makybe Diva Stakes Day presents a great program for punters on Saturday with the feature coming up in race 8 on the program at 4:20pm (AEST). Sheza Alibi is the short $1.80 favourite and will be hard to beat after a good 2nd behind Autumn Glow on resumption, while Melbourne Cup winning combination Half Yours and Jamie Melham combine again in the race but he is an outside chance at 40-1 first up. Gold Coast Belle faces her toughest assignment yet in the Group 2 Let’s Elope, while Oliveanotherday looks hard to beat in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis. Race one is scheduled to start at 12:10pm (AEST) and runners are predicted to be running on a Good4.
Brendan Bunworth's three best bets of the day and Quaddie selections for Flemington are below!
Flemington Racing Tips: Saturday, September 12th 2026
Race 4: Schweppes Poseidon Stakes Group 3 1100m - 1:50pm (AEST)
(1) Paradoxium has a good record on Dry tracks and has trialled up well leading into this. The colts first up record is solid and Jason Collett knows this guy well having won twice on top before. Before his spell he sat on speed in his last three starts and raced very well, winning the Group 2 Todman at Randwick. In the Golden Slipper on March 21 he was 11th but beaten only 5L. Has drawn well in 3 and should get another on-speed run.
(6) Mbube has had 1 start for a victory on a Soft track and he won a jumpout on August 31 with Mark Zahra on. He stays on in race conditions.
(2) Hard Kick may try and lead from barrier 8 and he is 2 from 2 over this journey. Won a jumpout last week with Zahra on. He has chosen to ride Mbube.
(1) Paradoxium - WIN
$3.60 (2 Units)
Race 6: De Bortoli Tontonan Stakes Group 3 1400m - 3:05pm (AEST)
(8) Sass Appeal can bounce back after running 4th last start at Caulfield. She is unbeaten at Flemington and a Dry track is her preference. She drops half a kilogram and from barrier 4 she should be able to settle in the top 4 in the run. Logan Bates stays on and the mare is going for her 6th win in 12 months. Danny O’Brien has a good record at headquarters and has set her for a big Spring.
(10) Just Party has only won 2 in 21 starts but has the potential to come on strong at the end. He won the Goulburn Cup last start and he stays with 54kg for this. Craig Williams goes on for the first time.
(4) Run Harry Run drops 3kg after running 5th at Rosehill. He will go forward but with a few on pacers in this race he will want an even speed. Query at Flemington but is good Place odds.
(8) Sass Appeal - WIN
$2.80 (3 Units)
Race 8: Crown Makybe Diva Stakes GROUP 1 1600m - 4:20pm (AEST)
(12) Sheza Alibi can return to the winners list after running 2nd last start in the GROUP 1 WINX Stakes at Randwick. Got a bit too far back when fresh but finished off the race nicely. She is unbeaten when second up and she has drawn well in barrier 7. She will likely settle closer in midfield and Flemington will give her plenty of time to wind up down the straight. She is unbeaten over the mile.
(4) Sir Delius is first up but from all reports is flying. The son of Frankel has Willow on and he has already proven he likes Flemington. WIll want longer than the mile in a few weeks but is the main danger here.
(10) Treasurethe moment loves a Dry track and loves Flemington. Has won 4 from 5 starts when second up and her 4th in the Group 1 Memsie last start was solid. Best of the double-figure odds horses I think.
(12) Sheza Alibi - WIN
$1.80 (4 Units)
Quaddie Tips
Leg one: 5
Leg two: 12
Leg three: 1, 4, 8, 10
Leg four: 4, 9, 13
