Outsider out for shock 2025 Makybe Diva Stakes win

Underdog stayer Mark Twain is rated a $101 shot in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) but his camp is daring to dream of an upset in Saturday’s small but star-studded Flemington feature.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding will clash with five rivals, all proven at the highest level. While the task looks daunting, the history books offer encouragement: since 2000, eight horses have defied big odds in the race, including Gatting’s $101 boilover in 2019.

Mark Twain earned a ballot-free spot in the Melbourne Cup with his win in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) last year but injury forced him out of the spring. He resumed with a sprint run in New Zealand before arriving in Australia, where a barrier mishap saw him scratched from the So You Think Stakes last Saturday.

Regular rider Jamie Mott, who was unseated in that incident, believes Saturday’s race will benefit the horse despite the steep assignment. “There are only six runners, so instead of a gallop he’ll get more from a race, but he’s probably not up to winning that race,” he said. “I only had him for four seconds the other day, so I didn’t get much of a feel, but he’s a nice horse and hopefully he won’t get run off his legs.”

The gelding is likely to back up in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield next week as connections look to rebuild his rating. Mott added: “Roger is a great trainer and he really likes the horse. We just need that win to get his rating up and keep him on the Melbourne Cup path.”