Melbourne Cup Legend- Makybe Diva
Three time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva raced her way into the annals of Australian Racing history with a third successive Melbourne Cup Betting against the Odds in 2005.Sired by Desert King to dam Tugela, Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse-racing history, with winnings of AU$14,526,685 when she was retired on 1 November 2005, just moments after securing a record third Melbourne Cup.
Owned by South Australian tuna fisherman Tony Santic, Makybe Diva was named by the girls in his office who used the first two letters of their names (Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Diane and Vanessa) to name what would become Australia’s greatest mare.
An Australian racing icon, Makybe Diva was bred in England. She was brought to Australia after failing to receive a single bid at the sales and was sent to Victorian trainer David Hall.
Makybe Diva began her racing career as a three-year-old in July 2002. Her first race start was at Benalla, finishing fourth over 1200 metres.
As a four-year-old mare Makybe Diva would win six consecutive races. A fortnight after her first race start she stepped up in distance and won over a mile, she would win five more times culminating with a victory in the Group 3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes run during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
The 2003-04 racing season saw Makybe Diva race as a five year old claiming her first Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Nov 4.
Owner Tony Santic had an early spring bet on Makybe Diva, betting $2000 at $71.00 in Melbourne Cup Fixed Odds Betting. That winning Melbourne Cup bet was a gift to the girls in the office who had named the horse.
In April, Makybe Diva won the Sydney Cup during the Sydney Autumn Carnival to become the first horse to claim the Melbourne Cup- Sydney Cup double.
Trainer David Hall was then granted a license to train in Hong Kong, and Makybe Diva was transferred to the stables of leading Victorian trainer Lee Freedman,
The 2004-05 Australian Racing Season saw Makybe Diva claim a second Melbourne Cup at Flemington when she beat home Irish champion Vinnie Roe. Makybe Diva set a weight-carrying record for a mare of 55.5 kg in the process.
The Diva headed to Sydney after scoring a record-breaking win in the Australian Cup, setting an unofficial world record for 2000 m on turf. She won Sydney's most prestigious WFA race, The BMW, producing a performance that had seasoned racegoers in awe.
The great mare gave the Gai Waterhouse trained Sydney WFA star, Grand Armee, a 12 length start at the 700 metre mark and a two length beating with three time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss easing her down well before the post
She would go on to be named Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year for the 2004/05 season. She was also named Australian Champion Stayer and Australian Champion Filly and Mare.
The 2005-06 racing season is without question her best.
On the back of a failed attempt to race in Japan which saw her produce two unplaced efforts, Makybe Diva resumed from a spell and won the Group 2 Memsie Stakes first up.
She then stepped out in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley and was beaten a nose by Lad Of The Manor before scoring in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000 m at Flemington.
Makybe Diva would go on to win the W.S Cox Plate, the Australasian weight for age championship.
The Diva was forced 8-9 and 10 deep as every horse in the field made their move. Yet, she still charged down the outside to claim victory after turning for home seven wide.
Makybe Diva became a legend on 1 November 2005 winning a third consecutive Melbourne Cup.
Makybe Diva lumped 58 kg to win a record third Melbourne Cup. She was the highest-weighted winner of the cup since the Bart Cummings trained Think Big won his second Melbourne Cup with 58.5 kg in 1975.
The 2005-06 season would again see Makybe Diva named Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year for the second time, becoming just the third horse to win the award more than once. She was also named Australian Champion Stayer, winning this award for the third consecutive year as well as Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse.
The Diva would also receive international recognition for her exploits.
The IFHA World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings gave Makybe Diva a 124 ranking to make her not only the top ranked performer for 2005-06 but also the top ranked mare and top ranked performer at an extended distance.
Her W.S Cox Plate victory and historic third Melbourne Cup win was rated superior to Electrocutionist’s win in the Dubai World Cup and better than David Junior’s Dubai Duty Free and Heart’s Cry Sheema Classic victories.
On July 4 2006, Makybe Diva was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. The VRC and the Victorian Government have commissioned a bronze statue to commemorate Makybe Diva’s historic achievements while the Group 2 Craiglee Stakes, will become the Makybe Diva Stakes.
Makybe Diva is in foal to English Epsom Derby winner Galileo.
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