Makybe Diva, also known as “The Cups Queen” is a legendary Australian thoroughbred and three-time winner of the Melbourne Cup.
Now enjoying the retired life, when Makybe Diva was racing, she was making headlines all around the world.
Coming from humble beginnings, she would take her connections for the ride of a lifetime.
Makybe Diva’s Record
Although she won a total of 10 career Group 1 races, Makybe Diva is best known for her three consecutive Melbourne Cup victories.
The daughter of Desert King, which was purchased for 60,000 guineas in Europe, came to Australia and she showed her class early on.
After finishing fourth at Benalla on debut, she had a spell and came back to win her next six starts, culminating in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington.
Makybe Diva didn’t win for a year following that, but that next win came in the 2003 Melbourne Cup and she never looked back. It would be her first of three consecutive Melbourne Cup wins – all coming with Glen Boss in the saddle.
She was set for the Melbourne Cup in all three years, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t win big races in between. During her first and second Cup win, she won the Sydney Cup. Her other races didn’t yield a win, but that didn’t worry connections.
She was back winning the Melbourne Cup in 2004 and this time she continued in hot form for the rest of the season. Wins in the Australian Cup, BMW Stakes, Memsie Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, and Cox Plate followed that season.
Her final race came in 2005 and it resulted in her third and final Melbourne Cup victory. She brought the house at Flemington and it couldn’t have been a better send off.
The focus throughout her career was solely on the Melbourne Cup, a race she made her own. Connections opted not to travel overseas and instead carve out a legacy in Australia.
The legend of Makybe Diva
No horse has ever won three Melbourne Cups and Makybe Diva faced some quality international fields over the three years.
At her time of retirement, she was the highest stakes-earner in Australian racing history, taking over from previous record holder Sunline with her final Melbourne Cup win.
She paved the way for fillies and mares to attainably win the Melbourne Cup. Makybe Diva showed that mares can win the big race, as only 11 have done so in the past.
Since retiring, she has left four foals. None of the four foals amounted to much on the racetrack, but they attracted plenty of interest in the sales ring.
The people behind Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva was owned by successful tuna fisherman and businessman Tony Santic. He had success in his field and decided to go into horse ownership.
Named after the first two letters of his five employees, Makybe Diva would make them a household name in Australia.
She was trained originally by David Hall before he accepted a position in Hong Kong, so she was given to Lee Freedman.
The most notable association was with Glen Boss, who rode her for most of her career. Although she had numerous jockeys, Boss was in the saddle for all three Melbourne Cup wins.
Makybe Diva Achievements and Statistics
Makybe Diva is a two-time winner of Australian Horse of the Year. She won in back-to-back years in 2005 and 2006.
Her final Timeform rating wasn’t as high as the likes of Black Caviar and Winx, but that was the nature of her career. Connections targeted the big races and she didn’t win as many races as she could have.
She entered the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Makybe Diva Stakes was named in her honour.
At the time of retirement, she was the highest stakes-earner in Australian history with $14,526,686.
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Makybe Diva Statistics
Race record: 15 wins from 36 starts
Career earnings: $14,526,686
Group 1 wins: 9
Timeform rating: 129
Breeding: Desert King x. Tugela
Trainer: David Hall and Lee Freedman
Jockey: Glen Boss
Owners: Tony Santic
Silks: Blue with red and white
Sold for: 60,000 guineas
Years active: 2002-2006
