MARVELLOUS MAKYBE DIVA “This was a racehorse not only of immense ability, but a beautiful nature who just wanted to please you,” he recalled. Hours after her third Melbourne Cup, it was announced that Makybe Diva would be retired from racing. She finished with a record of 36 starts for 15 wins, four seconds, three thirds and $14,526,685 in prizemoney. Makybe Diva is arguably the best stayer to have won the Lexus Melbourne Cup. There have been many who would fall into that bracket for discussion including the likes of Phar Lap (1930) and Carbine (1890) but for one horse to find a way to win three Melbourne Cups is something extraordinary. Archer (1861-62), Peter Pan (1932 and 1934), Rain Lover (1968-69) and Think Big (1974-75) are the only other horses to win multiple Melbourne Cups. Afforded the luxury of three consecutive ten-out-of ten rides by Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Glen Boss, Makybe Diva broke all records along the way. She was the only horse to win the Cup three times and the greatest weight carrier for a mare in the history of the race. Eleven individual mares have won the Melbourne Cup dating as far back as Acrasia (1904). Of those eleven, Empire Rose (1988, 53.5kg) was the highest weight carried until Makybe Diva came along. In the second (2004) of her three Cup victories, Makybe Diva would successfully break Empire Rose’s record, carrying 55kg to victory. This would ultimately be broken the following year when she carried 58kg to win in extraordinary circumstances. As legendary racecaller Greg Miles famously said, “a champion becomes a legend!” Unusually, Makybe Diva would win by 1¼ lengths in each of her three Cup victories. Makybe Diva was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2006 and later elevated to Legend status in 2010. After several years at stud, she has enjoyed a life nurturing the next generation. MAKYBE DIVA (GB) 21 March 1999 - 28 February 2026 SIRE: Desert King (IRE) DAM: Tugela (USA) CAREER: 36 Starts 15 Wins 4 Seconds 3 Thirds PRIZEMONEY: $14,526,685
MAJOR RACES WON Group 1 Melbourne Cup WON Group 1 Sydney Cup WON Group 1 Australian Cup WON Group 1 Tancred Stakes WON Group 1 WS Cox Plate
3200m ( 2003 , 2004 , 2005 )
3200m ( 2004 )
2000m ( 2005 ) *Course record time
2400m ( 2005 ) 2040m ( 2005 ) 2500m ( 2002 ) 2000m ( 2005 ) 1400m ( 2005 ) 2400m ( 2004 ) 2000m ( 2004 ) 2400m ( 2004 )
WON Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
WON Group 2 Turnbull Stakes WON Group 2 Memsie Stakes 2ND Group 1 Caulfield Cup 3RD Group 1 Ranvet Stakes 3RD Group 1 Tancred Stakes
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