Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
The great mare Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) had reportedly sadly passed away after a short battle with colic. She leaves a legacy as one of the greatest mares that have graced the Australian turf.
Makybe Diva: A legend
G1 Melbourne Cup legend Makybe Diva has passed away at the age of 27, leaving behind a legacy that transcended racing. The three-time G1 Melbourne Cup winner captured the nation’s imagination with her unprecedented hat-trick from 2003 to 2005, a feat likely never to be repeated.
Makybe Stud paid tribute to their beloved icon through a statement.
"A once-in-a-generation legend, Makybe Diva captured the imagination of the nation and the admiration of the global racing community," the statement read.
"Her career was defined by courage, endurance and historic achievement. Today, Makybe Diva remains the only horse in history to win three consecutive victories in the Melbourne Cup in 2003, 2004 and 2005."
Makybe Diva’s unusual name came from the first two letters of five of her owner Tony Santic’s employees: Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Diane and Vanessa.
Record-breaking career
Trained first by David Hall, Makybe Diva captured her inaugural Melbourne Cup in 2003 before moving to Lee Freedman, who guided her to repeat wins in 2004 and 2005, all ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Glenn Boss. She also proved herself at Group 1 weight-for-age time and again, conquering races over 2000 metres and beyond, cementing her versatility and toughness.
"She changed my life," Glen Boss has commented, reflecting on the mare who became more than a champion - she became a national sporting icon.
The great mare finished her career with 36 starts for 15 wins and seven placings, earning a then-Australian prize money record of $14,526,685. She collected 11 stakes victories, including seven at Group 1 level, and claimed several feature races as well as her Melbourne Cup victories including the G1 Cox Plate, G1 Australian Cup, G1 BMW Stakes, and the G1 Sydney Cup.
Makybe Diva was crowned Australian Champion Racehorse in 2005 and entered the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2006, achieving Legend status in 2010 alongside Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}) and Carbine (NZ).
More than a racehorse
Proud owner Tony Santic, a Port Lincoln tuna farmer who cared for Makybe Diva for nearly three decades, expressed his deep connection with the mare.
"From the day she came into our lives, she was never just a racehorse - she was family," Santic said in a statement.
"From the day she came into our lives, she was never just a racehorse - she was family." - Tony Santic
"She gave us moments Australia will never forget, but more than that, she gave us joy every single day. She was loved from the beginning and she stayed loved for her whole life."
Retired to stud in 2019, Makybe Diva produced nine foals, including five winners from seven to race. Her first two progeny, a colt by Galileo (Ire) and a filly by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), were offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, selling for $1.5 million and $1.2 million respectively.
Tony Santic | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Her most successful on-track foal, All Too Hard mare Divanation, won multiple races and achieved black-type in the Listed Warrnambool Cup, and she has many daughters and granddaughters now breeding at stud, carrying on her blood.
Makybe Diva leaves a lasting imprint on Australian racing, remembered not only for her unmatched Melbourne Cup triumphs but also for her courage, spirit and the joy she brought to millions of fans.
