Makybe Diva
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| Makybe Diva | ||
|---|---|---|
 Returning to scale with Glen Boss after winning the 2005 Australia Cup. | ||
| Sire: | Desert King | |
| Dam: | Tugela | |
| Damsire: | Riverman | |
| Sex: | Mare | |
| Foaled: | 1999 | |
| Country: | GB | |
| Colour: | Bay | |
| Breeder: | Emily Krstina Pty Ltd | |
| Owner: | Tony Santic | |
| Trainer: | Lee Freedman/David Hall | |
| Record: | 36:15-4-3 | |
| Prizemoney: | AU$14,526,685 | |
| Major Wins | ||
| 2003,2004,2005 | Melbourne Cup | |
| 2005 | Cox Plate | |
| 2005 | The BMW | |
| 2005 | Australian Cup | |
| 2005 | C F Orr Stakes | |
| 2004 | Sydney Cup | |
| *Statistics correct as of July 6th 2006 | ||
| **Retired | ||
Makybe Diva is a British-bred racehorse that was taken to Australia where she became the first thoroughbred to win the prestigious Melbourne Cup three times - in 2003 and 2004, and again in 2005 when she also won the Cox Plate. 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 retired on 1 November 2005.
The achievements of "the Diva" are seen in context by the fact that only four other horses have won the Cup more than once in the 145 year history of the event - (Archer in 1861 and 1862, Peter Pan in 1932 and 1934, Rain Lover in 1968 and 1969 and Think Big in 1974 and 1975). Makybe Diva is owned by South Australian tuna fisherman Tony Santic, who named her after the first two letters in five of his employees' names (Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Diana and Vanessa).
Prior to racing
The Makybe Diva story began in 1998 in England. Tony Santic's bloodstock agent John Foote purchased Tugela in foal to Desert King for 60,000 guineas at the December 1998 Tattersall's Sale. As usual with Santic's British-purchased horses, she was taken to Dick Fowlston's Britton House Stud in Somerset to board before being sent on to Australia. Tugela gave birth to a bay filly weighing 55 kg (121 pounds) at five minutes past midnight on 21 March 1999. The filly was offered for sale at the December 2000 Tattersall's sales but did not make the reserve. Called Makybe Diva, the filly remained at Britton House Stud until August 2000 when she and Tugela were shipped to Australia.
Season 2002-2003
Originally trained by David Hall, Makybe Diva made her racetrack debut in July 2002 as a three-year-old in a maiden race at Benalla in Victoria. She finished fourth, beaten 4.8 lengths. At her next start in August, as a four-year-old, Makybe Diva won her maiden race before moving quickly through the classes, winning two provincial events in a row. She had her first metropolitan start when winning a fillies and mares handicap over 2000 meters at Flemington. She followed with impressive wins over handy, but not outstanding, fields in the Listed Werribee Cup and Group 2 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Makybe Diva returned briefly in the autumn for two unspectacular showings over short distance races. But owner Tony Santic and trainer David Hall had other plans in mind for the Spring.
Season 2003-2004 (Melbourne Cup 1)
Makybe Diva resumed racing in the spring over 1400m but while being reasonably competitive she did not make herself especially prominent. Second up at her next start in the Group 3 Stock Stakes the Diva stormed home from the tail of the field with an eyecatching run to finish fourth, beaten just over two lengths. She then started 5-1 equal favourite in the Group 2 Turnbull Stakes, where she again settled last before flashing home for fourth beaten, one length this time. Sent out a 14-1 outsider in the Caulfield Cup, she began her highly successful partnership with leading Sydney jockey Glen Boss. Coming from near last with 800 m to go in the 2400 m race, she hit the lead at the 400 m mark, but faded to finish a close fourth. The first Tuesday in November 2003 was to be her first Melbourne Cup victory. Starting an $8 second favourite, Makybe Diva raced at the back of the field until the finishing straight, where jockey Boss picked his way through the field to win by one and a half lengths going away.
In the autumn the mare resumed over an unsuitable 1400 m with 59.5 kg and was beaten by 10 lengths, the worst defeat of her career. This was followed by a fast finishing third in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup. Following this she performed poorly in the Australian Cup before being taken to Sydney where her form improved with third placings in the Ranvet Stakes and The BMW, both Group 1 races. The Group 1 Sydney Cup over 3200m was to be her final run for the campaign. Sent out $3.50 second favourite, she settled off the pace and charged home, although not without competition. The previously unheralded Manawa King matched her stride for stride down the Randwick straight. Makybe managed to hold off Manawa by a neck, thereby becoming the first horse to ever win the Sydney Cup / Melbourne Cup double in the same season and only the fourth horse to do so.
After the 2003-2004 season, trainer David Hall left to train in Hong Kong, and Makybe Diva was transferred to trainer Lee Freedman, generally regarded as one of Australia's top trainers.
Season 2004-2005 (Melbourne Cup 2)
Her campaign in Spring 2004, to try to win the Melbourne Cup for a second time, followed the familiar pattern of her previous cup winning campaign, although she appeared to be racing better than ever. A close second in the Group 2 John F Feehan Stakes over 1600 m at Moonee Valley underlined her competitiveness in shorter races. Despite finishing second in the Caulfield Cup, the quality of her run was such that most of the media reports after the race focused on her, rather than the victor. Drawing barrier 18, Makybe Diva sat at the very back of the field, and charged home in her typical style to be narrowly defeated by the horse that led all the way to win Elvstroem.
Makybe Diva's victory in the 2004 Melbourne Cup was remarkable for its ease. She was sent out a 5-2 favourite, and won the race as the odds said she would. In driving rain the mare defeated one of the strongest Melbourne Cup fields in years, featuring multiple Irish St. Leger winner Vinnie Roe, Caulfield Cup winners Mummify and Elvstroem, highly regarded European stayer Mamool from the Godolphin stable, as well as the 2002 Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle. By her victory on the rain affected Flemington track, Makybe Diva stamped herself as the champion stayer of the modern era.
Resuming racing in February, Makybe Diva put in close runs behind Elvstroem in both the C F Orr Stakes and St George Stakes, at Caulfield. On March 12, she won the Australian Cup, a weight for age event over 2000 m, in the process breaking the Australian record and setting an unofficial world record for 2000 m on turf. She proceeded to take Sydney's most important WFA race, The BMW, with a sensational last-to-first burst. In April and May Makybe Diva raced in Japan, where she failed in two starts, the latter of which was over 3200 m in the Group One Tenno Sho (Emperor's Cup).
The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings Conference covering the 2004/5 season was held in Singapore in July 2005. Makybe Diva was selected Top Ranked Long-Distance Performer and The Top Ranked Filly or Mare – Turf. She received a rating of 119 - the highest rated horse in the world received 123.
Makybe Diva was named Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year for the 2004/05 season. Along with this she was also named Australian Champion Stayer and Australian Champion Filly and Mare.
A three quarter brother to Makybe Diva was sold in April 2005 for an Australian record price of $1.59 million dollars, he has subsequently been named Musket.
Season 2005-2006 (Melbourne Cup 3)
Resuming racing in August 2005, Makybe Diva won the Group 2 Memsie Stakes first up, before being beaten by a nose in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Two weeks later with a blistering run down the outside of the field Makybe Diva scored a brilliant win in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000 m at Flemington. The mare further enhanced her reputation as one of Australia’s greatest turf icons with a comfortable victory in the 2005 Cox Plate, despite being seven horses wide on the home turn.
On 1 November 2005, Makybe Diva won a record third Melbourne cup, ahead of On A Jeune and Xcellent. Immediately after the race trainer Lee Freedman said of the achievement, "Go find the smallest child on this course, and there will be the only example of a person who will live long enough to see that again." During the presentation of the Melbourne Cup, owner Tony Santic announced that Makybe Diva would "retire from racing as of today".
Makybe Diva carried 58 kg during that record third Melbourne Cup, 2 kg above the standard weight-for-age scale. The last horse to carry more than weight-for-age and win was Rain Lover, who was 2 kg over when he won his second cup in 1969 with 60.5 kg. Significantly Makybe Diva, who smashed her own weight-carrying record for a mare of 55.5 kg which she set in 2004, was the highest-weighted winner of the cup since Think Big won his second Melbourne Cup with 58.5 kg in 1975.
After the race some trainers and bookies complained that the track had been doctored to suit Makybe Diva. Lee Freedman had indicated before the race that she would not start if the track was too firm. Two days before the race the track was extensively watered by course officials. Rival trainers Gai Waterhouse and John Hawkes criticised the move, with Waterhouse calling it, "a disgrace" and Hawkes commenting, "I thought it was the Melbourne Cup not the Makybe Cup." Bookies were also unhappy as they lost heavily when the strong favourite came in. However these criticisms ignored the fact that it is the Victorian Racing Club's policy to water tracks to avoid racing on overly-hard surfaces.
After Racing
On 4 July 2006, Makybe Diva was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame
Race Record
| Result | Date | Race | Venue | Distance | Weight (kg) | Time | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 29/7/2002 | 3yo Maiden | Benalla | 1200m | 54.5 | 1:13.15 | F. Alesci | Blues Explosion 1st |
| Result | Date | Race | Venue | Distance | Weight (kg) | Time | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 13/08/2002 | Maiden | Wangaratta | 1600m | 55 | 1:41.70 | V. Hall | Sing Us a Tune 2nd |
| Won | 3/9/2002 | Class 1 | Sale | 1700m | 55 | 1:43.97 | V. Hall | Zanisa 2nd |
| Won | 17/9/2002 | Class 3 | Ballarat | 2000m | 54.5 | 2:07.15 | V. Hall | Our Fireman Sam 2nd |
| Won | 3/10/2002 | F & M Handicap | Flemington | 2000m | 52 | 2:02.31 | B.Prebble | Little Miss Quick 2nd |
| Won | 30/10/2002 | Werribee Cup | Werribee | 2000m | 51.5 | 2:03.24 | L. Currie | Aquiver 2nd |
| Won | 9/11/2002 | Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Flemington | 2500m | 52 | 2:35.78 | L. Currie | Spirit of Westbury 2nd |
| 8th | 5/4/2003 | Open Handicap | Caulfield | 1400m | 55.5 | 1:22.52 | V. Hall | Karamazou 1st |
| 6th | 25/4/2003 | Auckland RC Hcp. | Flemington | 1600m | 56.5 | 1:37.10 | V. Hall | Old Man 1st |
| Result | Date | Race | Venue | Distance | Weight (kg) | Time | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 30/08/2003 | Noel Rundle Welter | Caulfield | 1400m | 58.5 | 1:25.32 | L. Currie | C'Est Le Reve 1st |
| 4th | 13/09/2003 | W H Stock Stakes | Moonee Valley | 1600m | 55.5 | 1:36.81 | S. Arnold | Sunday Joy 1st |
| 4th | 4/10/2003 | Turnbull Stakes | Flemington | 2000m | 56.5 | 2:04.06 | L. Currie | Studebaker 1st |
| 4th | 18/10/2003 | Caulfield Cup | Caulfield | 2400m | 51.5 | 2:25.98 | G. Boss | Mummify 1st |
| Won | 4/11/2003 | Melbourne Cup | Flemington | 3200m | 51 | 3:19.90 | G. Boss | She's Archie 2nd |
| 7th | 14/2/2004 | Chester Manifold Stakes | Flemington | 1400m | 59.5 | 1:21.12 | V. Hall | Mr Murphy 1st |
| 3rd | 28/2/2004 | Carlyon cup | Caulfield | 1600m | 56.5 | 1:36.24 | G. Boss | La Sirenuse 1st |
| 6th | 8/3/2004 | Australian Cup | Flemington | 2000m | 55.5 | 2:01.67 | G. Boss | Lonhro 1st |
| 3rd | 20/3/2004 | Ranvet Stakes | Rosehill | 2000m | 55.5 | 2:03.22 | G. Boss | Sound Action 1st |
| 3rd | 3/4/2004 | The BMW | Rosehill | 2400m | 55.5 | 2:25.78 | G. Boss | Grand Zulu 1st |
| Won | 17/4/2004 | Sydney Cup | Randwick | 3200m | 55.5 | 3:21.21 | G. Boss | Manawa King 2nd |
| Result | Date | Race | Venue | Distance | Weight (kg) | Time | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 28/08/2004 | Memsie Stakes | Caulfield | 1400m | 55.5 | 1:23.02 | L. CurrieS | Regal Roller 1st |
| 2nd | 11/09/2004 | J F Feehan Stakes | Moonee Valley | 1600m | 55.5 | 1:42.50 | L. Currie | Delzao 1st |
| 7th | 2/10/2004 | Turnbull Stakes | Flemington | 2000m | 56.5 | 2:00.46 | D. Oliver | Elvstroem 1st |
| 2nd | 16/10/2004 | Caulfield Cup | Caulfield | 2400m | 55.5 | 2:31.37 | G. Boss | Elvstroem 1st |
| Won | 2/11/2004 | Melbourne Cup | Flemington | 3200m | 55.5 | 3:28.55 | G. Boss | Vinnie Roe 2nd |
| 7th | 12/2/2005 | C F Orr Stakes | Caulfield | 1400m | 55.5 | 1:22.85 | S. King | Elvstroem 1st |
| 2nd | 26/2/2005 | St George Stakes | Caulfield | 1800m | 56.5 | 1:49.56 | G. Boss | Elvstroem 1st |
| Won | 12/3/2005 | Australian Cup | Flemington | 2000m | 55.5 | 1:58.73 | G. Boss | Winning Belle 2nd |
| Won | 19/3/2005 | The BMW | Rosehill | 2400m | 55.5 | 2:26.99 | G. Boss | Grand Armee 2nd |
| 7th | 10/4/2005 | April Stakes | Nakayama | 2000m | 59 | 2:00.1 | G. Boss | Suzuno March 1st |
| 7th | 1/5/2005 | Tenno Sho | Kyoto | 3200m | 56 | 3:16.5 | G. Boss | Suzuko Mambo 1st |
| Result | Date | Race | Venue | Distance | Weight (kg) | Time | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 27/08/2005 | Memsie Stakes | Caulfield | 1400m | 55.5 | 1:26.75 | S. King | Barely a Moment 2nd |
| 2nd | 10/09/2005 | J F Feehan Stakes | Moonee Valley | 1600m | 55.5 | 1:37.64 | G. Boss | Lad of the Manor 1st |
| Won | 1/10/2005 | Turnbull Stakes | Flemington | 2000m | 56.5 | 2:01.57 | G. Boss | Lad of the Manor 2nd |
| Won | 22/10/2005 | Cox Plate | Moonee Valley | 2040m | 55.5 | 2:09.27 | G. Boss | Lotteria 2nd |
| Won | 1/11/2005 | Melbourne Cup | Flemington | 3200m | 58 | 3:19.79 | G. Boss | On a Jeune 2nd |
Pedigree
| Pedigree of Makybe Diva | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sire Desert King b. 1994 | Danehill b. 1986 | Danzig | Northern Dancer |
| Pas de Nom | |||
| Razyana | His Majesty | ||
| Spring Adieu | |||
| Sabaah ch. 1988 | Nureyev | Northern Dancer | |
| Special | |||
| Dish Dash | Bustino | ||
| Loose Cover | |||
| Dam Tugela br. 1995 | Riverman br. 1969 | Never Bend | Nasrullah |
| Lalun | |||
| River Lady | Prince John | ||
| Nile Lily | |||
| Rambushka b. 1986 | Roberto | Hail to Reason | |
| Bramalea | |||
| Katsura | Northern Dancer | ||
| Noble Fancy (F-No.9-f) | |||
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