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Racing

Racing mourns the passing of all-time great Makybe Diva

Makybe Diva, one of the all-time great racehorses, has died after a sudden health battle. She was 26.

Makybe Diva parading on 18 Oct, 2003
Makybe Diva parading on 18 Oct, 2003 Picture: Racing and Sports

Owner Tony Santic revealed on Saturday that Makybe Diva had passed after contracting colic.

The mighty mare was more than just a champion racehorse, she transcended the sport.

MAKYBE DIVA winning the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington in Australia
MAKYBE DIVA winning the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington in Australia Picture: Racing Photos
In fact,  Makybe Diva became an Australian sporting icon completing an unprecedented three successive Melbourne Cups from 2003-05.

Hall of Fame jockey Glen Boss was Makybe Diva's regular rider and conceded the mighty mare "changed my life".

"I've got nothing but admiration for the shining light that she was as these great horses are not here for long and they have even less time on the racetrack,'' Boss said.

"But she will impact my life for as long as I live. I get people telling me every day where they were the day 'The Diva' won her third Melbourne Cup.''

Makybe Diva was given three tactically perfect rides by Boss to complete her Melbourne Cup hat-trick – a record that is unlikely to ever be equalled in the nation's most famous race.

"I guess you could say Makybe Diva's three Cup wins proved it can be done,'' Boss said.


"But it is nearly an impossible task to get a horse that well on the same day three years in a row and carry the weights she was asked to do.''

David Hall trained Makybe Diva to win her first Melbourne Cup then Lee Freedman took over as the mare's trainer, preparing her to win the 2004-05 Melbourne Cups, plus the Cox Plate, Australian Cup and Tancred Stakes.

Lee Freedman and Tony Santic celebrate carrying Glen Boss after Makybe Diva wins her 3rd Melbourne Cup
Lee Freedman and Tony Santic celebrate carrying Glen Boss after Makybe Diva wins her 3rd Melbourne Cup Picture: Racing and Sports
"When Makybe Diva won her second Melbourne Cup, she beat a world champion that day in Vinnie Roe,'' Boss said. "He was the best stayer in the world at that time but she beat him convincingly.

"Then she had to carry a record weight for a mare of 58kg in her third Melbourne Cup and she was magnificent in what was her final race start.

"People also forget she still holds the Flemington 2000m record (1m 58.73s) which I feel will also stand the test of time.

"She competed at a very high level and never let us down. She has left a big mark on Australian sport, not just racing.''

Boss revealed he found himself staring often at his three Melbourne Cup trophies after learning of Makybe Diva's passing.

"I keep looking at those three trophies - the Cup must be the most iconic trophy in Australian sport,'' Boss said. "What she did will probably never be done again.''

Makybe Diva and Boss will be remembered as one of the great horse-jockey combinations of all-time like Black Caviar and Luke Nolen, Winx and Hugh Bowman, and Kingston Town and Malcolm Johnston.

"I had the perfect partner in Makybe Diva,'' Boss said.

"I'm just blessed she came into my life – I owe her so much.''

 

HOOFNOTE

Makybe Diva had 36 starts for 15 wins and seven placings, earning a then-Australian record of $14,526,685.

She earned aTimeform peak rating of 129 and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Makybe Diva was then given Legend status in the Hall of Fame in 2010, joining Phar Lap and Carbine as the only horses so far to be afforded the ultimate honour.


 






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