Australia: I'm Thunderstruck gets crucial extra distance in Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington

I’m Thunderstruck ran out of ground when he finished a fast-closing second by a half-length in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 27.

That may not be an issue when the two-time stakes winner starts favored in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at a mile at Flemington Racecourse on Friday.

The one-mile distance is a much better fit.

I’m Thunderstruck won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at a mile at Caulfield last October and followed three weeks later with a win in the $5.64 million Golden Eagle Stakes for 4-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs.

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I’m Thunderstruck is winless in six starts this year, but finished second in two Group 1 races and in the $3.69 million All-Star Mile in March.

In the $674,500 Makybe Diva Stakes, I’m Thunderstruck was the 7-5 favorite in early betting as of Thursday, with Alligator Blood at 9-2 and Cascadian at 5-1.

Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent, Jr., I’m Thunderstruck will break from the inside in a field of eight.

At Flemington, one-mile races start from a chute on the backstretch. An inside post should allow jockey Mark Zahra to work out a stalking trip on I’m Thunderstruck.

Alligator Blood, who typically races as a stalker, won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at six furlongs at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane in June, but was a troubled seventh in the Memsie, racing in traffic in the stretch when jockey Damien Oliver was unable to find a clear path. Alligator Blood was beaten nearly five lengths, but could have been much closer with luck.

Tim Clark has the mount in the Makybe Diva. Clark was aboard Alligator Blood most recently in the Stradbroke.

Cascadian, third in the Memsie, is a threat from the back of the field. He won the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in April. The Memsie was Cascadian’s first start since the All Aged.

The Makybe Diva Stakes is the fifth race on a nine-race program that begins at 10:30 p.m. Eastern or 7:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Last year, the Makybe Diva Stakes was won by Incentivise, who was later second in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in November as the 9-5 favorite.