Who was Makybe Diva?
Makybe Diva was an Australian racehorse who won the Melbourne Cup three times in a row, in 2003, 2004 and 2005. She remains the only horse to win the race three times.
Makybe Diva was foaled in England in 1999 and brought to Australia. Her owner, Tony Santic, is a tuna fisherman from Port Lincoln in South Australia.
Her name was created from the first letters of the names of five women who worked for Santic's business: Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Dianne and Vanessa.
Three Melbourne Cups
Makybe Diva won her first Melbourne Cup in 2003 under trainer David Hall. She won again in 2004 and 2005 under trainer Lee Freedman. Her jockey in all three wins was Glen Boss.
In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate, showing her versatility over shorter distances.
She retired after her third Melbourne Cup win. A bronze statue of Makybe Diva stands on the foreshore at Port Lincoln. She was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Her three Cup wins drew huge crowds at Flemington, and her final victory in 2005 was celebrated as one of the great moments in Australian racing history. She was retired immediately after that race.