Last year’s early G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) and G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) favourite Sir Delius looms as the biggest threat to star mare Sheza Alibi’s dominance in Saturday’s (12 September) G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in Melbourne, Australia.

The formerly French-trained galloper, trained by Gai Waterhouse in partnership with Adrian Bott, was favourite for the two big races before being withdrawn on veterinary advice.

The six-year-old stallion has trialled impressively and is first-up since winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April. He has two wins, two seconds and a third from five first-up runs and won his only race at Flemington in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) last October.

Craig Williams, who has ridden Sir Delius to his three Group 1 victories, has opted to stick with the import after riding one of Saturday’s rivals, Mr Brightside, in 45 of his 49 races.

Waterhouse said a victory would enhance his value as a stallion.

“He’s a really happy horse and he’s training well,” Waterhouse said. “He’s been down now (in Melbourne) for just over a week. He’s pretty fit. These are important races – they’re stepping stones to where you want to be – and it’s a Group 1 race worth a lot of money and with a lot of prestige. He’s an entire, so every Group 1 adds to his value as a stallion.

“I think it will be a hard race to win, but we’re in it and we’ll give it a shake.”

Waterhouse isn’t underestimating the quality of the opposition, including Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained mare Sheza Alibi, who finished second to Autumn Glow in the G1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on 22 August.

“I think she’s very impressive, she’s terrific,” Waterhouse added. “She’s lovely and strong and knows where the winning post is.”

Sheza Alibi is unbeaten in her three second-up races, including in her only encounter at Flemington when she won the G3 The Vanity (1400m) last November. She has won all three races at 1600m, two of those at Group 1 level.

Moody was happy to reflect on Sheza Alibi’s 3.2L victory over another of Saturday’s rivals, Autumn Boy, when she was second-up in the G1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) in March.

“She had a week down at the beach after the trip (to Sydney), had a good gallop on Tuesday morning, and she’ll have another one this week,” Moody said. “She won the Guineas second-up at a mile (1600m) last prep, then won the Doncaster (G1) a month later at a mile. She doesn’t need racing to hold her fitness.”

The veteran of the field, nine-year-old Mr Brightside, is aiming to create history by winning his fourth consecutive Makybe Diva Stakes after resuming with a three-length second to Beiwacht in the G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).

It was his first run in nine months after being sidelined with a leg injury that required minor surgery, but the return pleased Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD.

“It’s a hot field again with a couple of good horses and Craig (Williams) unfortunately has jumped off but we’ve got a good jockey in Blake Shinn on,” Hayes said.

“He was nine months off the scene and, while he got well beaten, it was still a very good performance,” Hayes said of Mr Brightside’s first-up run. “I think he just peaks in the Makybe Diva every year.

“A run normally brings him on and it’s done it again. It really switches him on. We just know what we need to do with him and we know how to get the best result.”

Chris Waller has five runners in the 13-horse field, with Aeliana and Autumn Boy rated his best chances. Birdman, Buckaroo and Ohope Wins are outsiders in the market.

Last year’s Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours is hoping to recapture some form in his first run since June, while Treasurethe Moment is a winner at the track and distance and is second-up after fourth in the G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on 29 August and rates highly.

The G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) is carded as S1-2 and will be run at 2.20pm (Hong Kong time) on Saturday, 12 September.

Photo: Racing Photo