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Cameron Happ analyses the entire Makybe Diva Stakes meeting from Flemington Races 6-9

Cameron Happ - Monday September 18
PART 2: Cameron Happ takes an in-depth look at how your money performed and pinpoints some future winners from Flemington as he analyses the last four races from Flemington on Makybe Diva Stakes day.
Almandin was the easy winner of the JRA Trophy. Photo: Darryl Sherer
Race 6 – Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) – Group 2

1st – Sword Of Light ($18)
2nd – Swampland ($5.50) – long neck
3rd – Lovani ($41) – ¾ len
Then followed: Give Us A Go ($81), Smart As You Think ($41), Schism ($9.50), I Am A Star ($3.70 fav), Jennifer Lynn ($14), Serenely Discreet ($31), Exocet ($31), Flying Jess ($26), Let Her Rip ($41), Happy Hannah ($26), Written Era ($15), Oregon's Day (5.50), Risque ($101) < Analysis: Lovani took up the running to set up just an even tempo with Sword Of Light quickly cancelling her wide gate, back markers were up against it from the start. Of those in the market, I Am A Star and Swampland both found nice runs midfield and Oregon's Day got a torrid run trapped out four and five deep without cover back in the field. Sword Of Light took over at the 150m and found plenty for a good win but for the second run in a row now Swampland should have won. Held up on the winners back she only saw daylight inside the 100m to charge through the line. Smart As You Think and Exocet both put in nice closing runs on their way to longer races. I Am A Star was slightly held up under the big weight but had her chance in this grade and forget Oregon's Day went around, she had mucus and EIPH scoped post-race after the wide run.

Money Trail: The class runner I Am A Star was clearly best backed $4.20 into $3.70. Swampland and Oregon's Day were both solid starting at their opening quote of $5.50 after slight drifts. The winner was unwanted $16 out to $18 Jennifer Lynn was the big drifter out to $14 after opening $8.50.

Blackbooker: Smart As You Think has hit the line hard now in both runs back from a spell and she did it against the pattern of this race. She was tried out over staying trips as a three-year-old and looks headed towards a win if they keep her in mares grade.

Race 7 – PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) – Group 1

1st – Humidor ($17)
2nd – Hartnell ($1.70 fav) – 3¼ lens
3rd – Black Heart Bart ($8.50) – ½ len
Then followed: Gailo Chop ($18), Single Gaze ($101), Ventura Storm ($91), Tavago ($81), Jon Snow ($21), Inference ($51), Hey Doc ($8.50), Le Romain ($14), Seaburge ($81) Analysis: It looked a race with no speed but as always happens, a few see it the same way pressing on early which set up a good even tempo to give back markers their chance. Hey Doc over raced finding the front with Hartnell right on his tail. Black Heart Bart faced the breeze three deep and the Humidor dropped out last. They packed up on the turn allowing Humidor to improve with cover five and six deep. Hartnell took over under pressure at the 300 metres but had nothing to offer when Humidor gave him windburn at the 150m, charging clear for a dominant win. Black Heart Bart fought on well off the tough run and Gailo Chop is ticking over nicely to not be beaten far, while Ventura Storm had no room from the 250 metres, he'll take good improvement for the run. Both Le Romain and Seaburge pulled up with a degree of EIPH so may have had excuses for poor runs.

Money Trail: There was very little betting action in the entire race with most punters thinking Hartnell had them covered. He was $1.75 into $1.65 before easing to start $1.70. Humidor was friendless $12 out to $17 and the rest were easy apart from Hey Doc which was a slight firmer $9 into $8.50.

Blackbooker: Impossible to look past Humidor for the horse to follow. He obviously surprised the stable today being friendless in the betting but he was totally dominant and he's only going to improve as he rises in trip.

Race 8 – Japan Racing Association Trophy (2500m) - Listed

1st – Almandin ($5)
2nd – Crocodile Rock ($3.60 fav) – 2¾ lens
3rd – Aloft ($10) – short neck
Then followed: Yogi ($7.50), Loresho ($31), Granddukeoftuscany ($61), SuperHaze ($21), Killarney Kid ($21), Charlevoix ($31), Swacadelic ($101), Bondi Beach ($31), Cismontane ($31), Hans Holbein ($5.50) Analysis: There's a lot of water to go under the bridge but Almandin certainly looks to have one hand on both cups. The stable mate Granddukeoftuscany ran them along to make it a true staying test with Hans Holbein and Crocodile Rock getting gun runs third and fourth. Aloft dropped in midfield with Almandin tracking him along the rails. As always Yogi couldn't keep up out the back. Almandin was held up on the turn before cutting back to the rails at the 450m mark where he exploded clear and idled down to a walk crossing the line. The two stable mates battled on well and Yogi was solid making a long wide run but the race was only about one horse.

Money Trail: Despite the dominance Almandin was slightly easy $4 out to $5 with Crocodile Rock clearly the punters pick firming from $3.90 into $3.60. Yogi had some support $9 into $7.50 and the rest were easy apart from Hans Holbein that was $6 into $5.50.

Blackbooker: Again the dominance means it can only be Almandin . On today's effort he's pitchforked into the two big cups and likely won't need another run if they head to Caulfield. If he doesn't get a penalty I won't be betting against him.

Race 9 – Sofitel Girls' Day Out Handicap (1700m)

1st – Hardham ($7.50)
2nd – Nozomi ($19) – ¾ len
3rd – Jacquinot Bay ($8) – nose
Then followed: Cool Chap ($4.80 fav), Red Alto ($31), Amovatio ($14), Gallic Chieftain ($12), Centre Pivot ($26), Amelie's Star ($5.50), Berisha ($51), Extra Zero ($31), Tarquin ($19), Big Memory ($31), Lord Van Percy ($201), Annus Mirabilis ($81), Mihany (12) Analysis: Mihany did a bit of work early to cross but he did manage to slow them up mid race to make it a bit of a task for the back markers. Cool Chap sped over to cancel the tricky gate before easing behind the speed just in front of Hardham getting a perfect run. Amelie's Star dropped in midfield the rails. Hardham sprinted fast to take the lead inside the 300 metres and found plenty to never really look in doubt. Nozomi bounced back to form charging home and Jacquinot Bay was a big run after facing the breeze three deep the trip. There were two hard luck stories in the race, Amelie's Star had plenty to offer but never saw daylight and Amovatio wasn't much better off being held up a number of times. Cool Chap, Red Alto and Gallic Chieftain all get pass marks moving forward.

Money Trail: Hardham had solid support $9 into $7.50 Cool Chap was the best backed horse in the race firming $6.50 into $4.80. Amelie's Star was surprisingly easy $4.60 out to $5.50. The rest either held their price or eased.

Blackbooker: Amelie's Star is going to have plenty in her tank after not being tested for a stride in the straight. Ready to peak and step up in trip, it wouldn't surprise if she backed up next week if there's a suitable race.
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