MAKYBE DIVA STAKES - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

HISTORY: Used to be the Craiglee Stakes. Renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes in 2007 to honour the three-time Melbourne Cup winner. Run over 1600m. Elevated to Group One in 2013.

NOTABLE WINNERS: Light Fingers (1965), Rain Lover (1969), Dulcify (1979), Zabeel (1990), Jeune (1995), Northerly (2002).

TALKING POINTS:

* Rain Lover is the last horse to complete the Makybe Diva-Melbourne Cup double in same season.

* The race has been a better guide to the Caulfield Cup with four horses completing the double including Northerly (2002).

* Five horses have completed the Makybe Diva-Cox Plate double.

MAKYBE DIVA RACE ANALYSIS

PATTERN OF THE RACE: Inside gates can help at the Flemington 1600m start but they may not be so crucial here because of the likely shape of the race. Expect Memsie Stakes winner Dissident to be on speed and Messene to press on from wide out. Puissance De Lune showed enough zip last time to ensure he will race as close as he did in the Memsie.

FANCIED RUNNERS: Dissident had the right run in winning the Memsie but he can't be knocked for putting himself into the race. The 4yo's early speed gives him a tactical edge. Boban was trapped wide in the Memsie and lost nothing with his 3.7 length fifth. He's a Group One winner over the course. Puissance De Lune has been set for the race.

BEST OF THE OUTSIDERS: Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner are both at double-figure odds as they start their spring campaigns. Their first-up records point to both horses hitting the line strongly.