A dual Australian Horse of the Year, Makybe Diva carved out one of the most remarkable careers in turf history, winning 15 races and banking more than $14 million in prizemoney. Her first Melbourne Cup triumph came in 2003 under the care of David Hall.
Transferred to the stable of Lee Freedman, she went on to create history by capturing the Melbourne Cup again in 2004 and 2005, becoming the only horse to win the iconic two-mile handicap three times. Glenn Boss partnered her in each of those famous victories.
Beyond her Cup dominance, she excelled at weight-for-age level, adding the Cox Plate and the Australian Cup over 2000 metres to her glittering résumé.
She concluded her racing career with 11 stakes wins, seven of them at Group 1 level, underlining her status as one of Australia’s greatest racehorses.
Her elite victories included the Melbourne Cup (G1, 3200m) three times, the Sydney Cup (G1, 3200m), the WS Cox Plate (G1, 2040m), The BMW (G1, 2400m), the Australian Cup (G1, 2000m), VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G2, 2500m), Memsie Stakes (G2, 1400m), Turnbull Stakes (G2, 2000m) and the Werribee Cup (Listed, 2000m).
Retired to stud for owner Tony Santic, Makybe Diva’s first two foals were both offered at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. A colt by Galileo fetched $1.5 million and later raced as Rockstardom, winning two races as a gelding. A filly by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), named La Dolce Diva, realised $1.2 million but did not place in four starts.
Her subsequent progeny were sold for a range of prices over the years. The most accomplished performer among them has been Divanation, a daughter of All Too Hard, who was purchased for $300,000 at the 2016 Inglis Premier Sale. She won multiple races and achieved Black Type with a runner-up finish in the Listed Warrnambool Cup.
Makybe Diva now has five daughters at stud, ensuring her legacy continues through the next generations of Australian racing.
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