This is our review of racing around Australia on Saturday, September 13, headlined by the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Check out all the highlights and lowlights below.
Star Performer
Mr Brightside (Flemington R8 – G1 Makybe Diva Stakes)
For a Group 1, the race was a farce in terms of the tempo. As expected, Williams took Mr Brightside straight to the front from the inside alley and completely controlled the race before letting the champ rip in the straight. In nothing more than a 400m dash, the hard-as-nails veteran sprinted too quickly for his rivals who were really given little to no chance by their riders. Take nothing away from Mr Brightside though – he’s now a three-time winner of the Makybe Diva Stakes and a 10-time Group 1 winner. His record puts him right up there with the very best milers this century.
Front Bar Fodder
FLEMINGTON
The feature was a farce
On a day of fast times, Mr Brightside’s winning time in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) was more than 30L outside of the Flemington track record. It was a deadset jog in front and none of Craig Williams’ rivals did anything about it. With much bigger fish to fry for all horses in the field, you can understand jockeys not wanting to gas their horses, but it was a pretty bad look for a Group 1 feature race. McDonald’s ride on Via Sistina – giving up the spot on Mr Brightside’s back – cost her 2nd but the run was little more than a trial for the Cox Plate champion.
READ: What the jockeys said after the Makybe Diva Stakes
ROSEHILL
Autumn Glow protects her unbeaten record with Theo Marks romp
There’s a few hype trains going around this spring and she might be the biggest of them all. Undefeated going into the Theo Marks Stakes and it remained that way following her dominant victory in the race. Jumped pretty handily and it gave jockey Kerrin McEvoy the option to settle in a closer position to the speed. Circled off the back of the leading pair at the top of the straight, wooshed to the front and put paid to them. General Salute gave a decent challenge but when Autumn Glow went through her gears, he just couldn’t match it with her.
Sixties wins Ming Dynasty but runner up all the talk
Chris Waller trained the quinella of the Ming Dynasty Quality with Sixties beating Autumn Boy and the race had all the punters talking about the second horse. On a day where the track favoured those up on the speed and on the fence, Sixties relished in his front running role and with a fitness edge, couldn’t be caught. Jason Collett had Autumn Boy in a midfield position and got his galloper with plenty of room to work with in the straight, but he just couldn’t reel in the winner. That last 50m was his best and he’ll be hard to beat in Group 1 assignments this spring.
Kerguelen the front runner for sickest beat of the carnival
The horse missed the kick so it wasn’t a slaughter, but you won’t see a better thing beaten all carnival than Kerguelen early on in the card. Just kept running into dead ends but when clear, he flew to grab third spot. By the time the run appeared though, it was all over.
DOOMBEN
Cejay Graham puts on an early clinic
Graham was on fire for the first half of the Doomben card, notching up a running treble with victories aboard Margot’s Deel ($7.50), Shadow Cruiser ($10) and Foreign Press ($1.85) in races one, two and three respectively. She took Queensland riding honours ahead of Andrew Mallyon who finished with a double.
Best Wins
FLEMINGTON
Arkansaw Kid (Bobbie Lewis)
There really wasn’t a standout performance on the Flemington card but Arkansaw Kid ran fast time and defied the usual pattern of straight-course winners coming down the middle or outside. It was also his second victory in the event and it’s never easy to go back-to-back … unless you’re Mr Brightside in the Makybe.
ROSEHILL
Tempted (Run To The Rose)
She’s come back in enormous order and flogged all the boys first-up in the Run To The Rose. They all had a fitness edge on her too but it didn’t bother the classy filly. Settled in a midfield position, brought to the centre of the track and ripped home to beat her stablemate, Beiwacht. Looks like she’s gone to another level as a three-year-old and they will find it tough to beat her again in the Golden Rose.
DOOMBEN
Take A Picture (Doomben R6)
Larrikin Rogue ($3.40) taking no part in the race certainly helped but this was an utterly dominant performance from the Phillip Cox-trained gelding. Well-held as a $3.80 chance in a BM62 at Toowoomba in his most recent outing, Take A Picture put 3.4L on his opposition as a $13 chance.
MORPHETTVILLE
Watchme Win (Morphettville R8, Listed Wylie Handicap)
The 5YO gelding was impressive on Saturday, letting down with a powerful turn of foot to overcome a determined Fancify and win the Listed Wylie Handicap first-up. That’s now a second stakes win for the Andrew Gluyas-trained gelding, who’s won six of 13 career starts. He now looks set to head over the border and tackle some Victorian sprint assignments. Nicely steered by Jason ‘Stubby’ Holder as well.
Punters Pearler
Blake Shinn on Golden Path (Flemington R10)
There wasn’t an obvious Pearler across the country but Shinn’s ride on Golden Path was a cracker from a horrible gate. Usually an on-pacer, the camp wanted the topweight (61kg) ridden off the speed but Shinn didn’t snag right back to the rear from barrier 19. He instead slotted in forward of midfield, one-off the fence, and timed his run to perfection to mow down the tearaway leader Globe.
Now there is the pro active Shinn on Golden Path! Tactics to go back with blks off and he has rolled fwd
— professionalpunting (@professorpunts) September 13, 2025 
Saturday Slaughter
Tyler Schiller on Gangsta Granny (Randwick R7)
We’re tipping Tyler Schiller would have liked to have had the first 100m of the Sheraco Stakes over again. He had the opportunity to cross them and lead, most importantly taking the all important ‘fence in run’. He was in two minds and didn’t rush to get there and as a result, Lilac kicked up to set the pace. As a result, Schiller was posted deep on Gangsta Granny and caught without cover for the whole trip. She loomed at the top of the straight and hit the front but was gobbled up at the 150m mark by Manaal and Dark Glitter.
Tyler Schiller posted was I surprised ? NO EOS
— daniel jackson (@dannynoeljackso) September 13, 2025 
Crystal Ball
NOT SO OBVIOUS BLACKBOOKER
El Castello (Randwick R9)
His first run since the Derby last year and he’s gone super. Chased a sharp field of gallopers over the 1300m and hit the line as good as anything to run fourth. Has come back on track and with new trainer Joe Pride, he’ll be winning races this spring.
SIX OUT OF SIX 🤯
Autumn Glow does it easily again! She toys with them in the G2 Theo Marks on her way to the Epsom Handicap, how far can she go this spring? pic.twitter.com/1DSsnAyiBV
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 13, 2025
WINNERS THAT WON’T WIN NEXT START
Fire Star (Randwick R5)
The two that finished behind him both had very little go their way so we think this horse was a bit lucky to have come away with the win.
Sixties (Randwick R6)
Had the race fitness on the runner up and also advantaged by the way the track was playing. Off to the Golden Rose for his next start but highly doubt he’ll be winning that.
Saints
Nova Centauri (Randwick R2)
Positioned just behind the leader and showed plenty of fight to run him down in the straight. Nice mare for trainer Rod Northam.
Juja Kibo (Randwick R3)
A strong ride from Ethan Brown saw Juja Kibo bounce back to his best in the staying contest. Up on the pace this time after getting across from the wide barrier and had plenty in the tank when Brown clicked him up at the 400m mark.
Nkosi (Randwick R4)
Got away with a soft lead up on the pace and made them pay for it. Kicked away at the top of the straight and with the lightweight, they just couldn’t pick him up. Drifter in the betting but the bookies got it wrong.
Manaal (Randwick R7)
She hasn’t won since her early three-year-old days but broke through with a strong victory second-up in the Sheraco Stakes. Relished the speed battle set by the front runners and presented to the middle of the track with plenty of room to work with.
Legacy Bound (Flemington R2)
Despite winning his first two race starts by big margins, punters didn’t want a bar of Legacy Bound in the Poseidon Stakes (1100m) – with the Griffiths-trained gelding blowing from $3.20 early in the week out to $6. Now 3 from 3, the exciting sprinter is an $8 second-favourite for the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) behind Rosberg.
Vinrock (Flemington R3)
He was as flat as a tack first-up at Caulfield but the rise to 1400m on a firmer deck saw Vinrock bounce back to winning form. Heavily-backed into $2.80, the Laurie-trained colt was sent forward from his wide gate and proved a class above in the straight as he pulled away under Mark Zahra.
My Gladiola (Flemington R4)
Although wide gates were certainly advantageous in this straight-course dash, My Gladiola ($4.40) never really had any cover on the outside of runners, so there was plenty of merit in her win. Well-supported at longer odds, Akaysha, charged home into 2nd as the first two gapped the rest.
Cafe Millenium (Flemington R5)
The Hayes brothers have done a terrific job with this former Sydneysider, winning three races with him from six starts this campaign. He wasn’t exactly known for his toughness in NSW but he pulled out plenty here to outgun smart Queensland visitor Transatlantic in a stirring duel.
Arkansaw Kid (Flemington R6)
Arkansaw Kid broke a run of second-placings to make it back-to-back G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) victories. Shinn took the $3.20 favourite back towards the fence, which isn’t generally the A-ground in the straight races, but the consistent sprinter was good enough to prevail in slick time over Star Patrol.
Revelare (Flemington R7)
He’s just an absolute winning machine this horse (8 from 11) and he’s now into the Melbourne Cup if Robert Hickmott and connections want to take up the two-mile challenge. Some horses seem to thrive in a scrap and Revelare is definitely one of those.
Lazzura (Flemington R9)
McDonald gave her a lovely ride in transit and she looked the winner with a furlong to run but Oh Too Good threw down a serious challenge over the final 50m. Thankfully for many punters – she was crunched into $2.05 – the Waller mare dug deep when it counted to land the prize. Put a line through On Display’s run in the same race – it was a horror show for her back on the fence.
Margot’s Deel (Doomben R1)
The maiden in the No Metro Wins Handicap was far too good for $1.90 favourite Alectrona, sweeping past the three-time winner to score impressively under Cejay Graham.
Foreign Press (Doomben R3)
The Gollan filly is building a nice record, making it 3 wins from 5 starts with an effortless win as a $1.85 favourite.
Zelgaria (Doomben R5)
He was a Sinner for most punters but this was a strangely dominant win from the $21 chance. His form leading in was average at best but the Dunn-trained galloper went past the $1.80 favourite Ouroboros like he had concrete hooves.
Party For Two (Doomben R7)
She’s a terrific mare who generally makes her own luck up on the speed, just as she did here after being slightly slow into stride. Lang gave her a little rev-up to boot through to lead and she controlled the race from there.
Back-to-back METRO WINS for the daughter of @TelemonThoroug1‘s SIDESTEP.
🏇 PARTY FOR TWO (5m) leads from start to finish to win today’s Open Handicap over 1110m at Doomben for trainer Tony Gollan and jockey Emily Lang.
Bred by Telemon Thoroughbreds and raced in partnership 👏 pic.twitter.com/tYtYCuPtl8
— Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland (@QldBreeders) September 13, 2025
Rabtat (Morphettville R2)
Four wins in-a-row, this gelding is airborne. A rise to 2500m on Saturday posed no issues for Rabtat, who was nicely handled by apprentice hoop Caitlin Tootell and reeled in Lavish Thinker for a one-length win. Part-owned by Norwood Football Club supporters, that contingent will be hoping it’s a good omen for Sunday’s preliminary final against Glenelg.
Snow Mercy (Morphettville R3)
There was plenty to like about Snow Mercy’s win. The Stokes-trained filly is clearly still learning her craft, over-racing a little early, but was too classy for her rivals over 1100m. She let down strongly over the final 200m for a one-length win over fancied rival Intellectual. Nailed an early double for the Stokes and Opperman combination also.
Imminance (Morphettville R5)
The Impending gelding was given a peach of a ride by Teo Nugent, settling slightly forward of midfield, with cover, and ran away with a dominant 2 3/4 length win over 1050m.
Anthracite (Morphettville R6)
Good win on Saturday. Made it a hat-trick of victories, and he had to tough it out after being challenged strongly by High Garden at the 200m. Responded impressively to run away with a strong 1 1/4 length win over 1800m. Exciting times ahead for Murray Bridge trainer Gary Boyce with this talented gelding, who now has four wins from three starts, his only failure a narrow second to Break The Taboo on debut.
Sinners
Captain Furai (Randwick R10)
He’s an honest horse that always picks up a cheque but he just can’t land a winning ticket for punters. Another losing effort as favourite for the Captain.
She’s An Artist (Flemington R1)
It was a messy race with the huge field splitting into two divisions but She’s An Artist (crunched into $1.90 favouritism) was still a little disappointing on face value. The Maher-trained mare has now been rolled at $1.30 and $1.90 in her last two starts, both down the straight.
McGaw (Flemington R2)
He was heavily-backed to jump a $4.20 second-favourite but once again McGaw did things wrong in the run that left him vulnerable at the business end. He won’t be winning races this spring unless the Browne camp iron out his quirks.
Crossbow (Flemington R3)
The Waller-trained galloper raced like a tired horse in the Exford and might be ready for a stint in the paddock after racing through the winter.
Warnie (Flemington R5)
He goes around at single-figure odds every start but is a pretty one-paced operator with nowhere near as many tricks as his legendary namesake.
Misterkipchoge (Doomben R2)
The notorious nonny was sent north by Waller but he didn’t fire a shot as a $3.90 favourite.
Ducasse (Doomben R8)
McMurray gave him every chance from barrier two but he was pea-hearted over the final furlong, fading to finish midfield as a $3.30 favourite.
Free Carry (Doomben R9)
No excuses at all for the beaten $2.24 favourite. He’s now been rolled at short odds at his last two outings.
Mesrour (Morphettville R5)
Sat on speed with Taking Omaha, was quickly under pressure on straightening and faded out sharply to finish seventh.
The Winners