The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has announced that Australia’s staying superstar, Makybe Diva, will return to Flemington on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 3 November, to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of her unprecedented third victory in the Melbourne Cup.
Prior to the Gr1 Lexus Melbourne Cup next Tuesday, the great mare will parade in the Flemington Racecourse Mounting Yard, the scene of her ascension to equine immortality in 2005 .
Pic is courtesy of the Makybe Diva Stud
A legend on the track, the Makybe Diva story is well known throughout the industry. Passed in at sale in England, she came to Australia as an unknown. Born to northern hemisphere time, Makybe Diva was on the back foot against her Australian counterparts.
She made the first of her 36 starts in 2002 and placed fourth in Benalla. A humble beginning – we all have to start somewhere! As she stepped up in distance her quality began to shine through, and as a four year old she won her first Listed Race, the Werribee Cup, at 2000 metres.
The year 2003 saw her first Melbourne Cup Victory, where she was second favourite going in. She raced home to first place in the Sydney Cup in 2004, and had a second-place finish in the Caulfield Cup. But once again Makybe Diva took home first place in the race that stops a nation in 2004.
In 2005 Makybe Diva was named Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, winning the Melbourne Cup, Australian Cup, BMW Stakes, Memsie Stakes, Turnbull Stakes and the Cox Plate.
She entered the Australian Racing Hall of Fame the following year.
Makybe Diva retired to stud and has had several foals.
A winner of seven Gr1 races including the Cox Plate, Australian Cup, Sydney Cup and the Tancred Stakes, in addition to her three Melbourne Cups, Makybe Diva is considered an Australian sporting icon akin to Sir Donald Bradman and Cathy Freeman OAM.
Watch her win the 2005 Melbourne Cup
She was presented with the inaugural Spirit of Sport Award by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2005, and retired from racing after her landmark 2005 Melbourne Cup triumph.
Now 22, she has recently been retired from breeding and glows with health, a testament to the wonderful care she enjoys at the stud which bears her name.
VRC Chairman Amanda Elliott said the Club was enormously grateful to Tony Santic for his generosity in sharing the champion mare with the public once again.
“That unforgettable image of Makybe Diva standing still on the track in front of the grandstands after her third consecutive win in the Cup always makes me emotional,” acknowledged Elliot. “She had taken all before her, it was her last race, and she stood and watched as nearly 110 000 people rose to applaud and respect a great champion.
