Melbourne Cup has a new Diva in Makybe

Makybe Diva, brilliantly ridden by Glen Boss, won Tuesday's 145th running of the Melbourne Cup to become the first horse to triumph three times in Australia's greatest race.

The seven-year-old mare enhanced her reputation as one of the country's greatest racehorses with a barnstorming finish in the gruelling A$5 million (US$3.8 million) 3,200-metre handicap at Flemington.

After settling midfield, Makybe Diva burst to the front 200 metres from the line then sprinted clear to a thunderous ovation from a crowd of 106,479 and a national audience of millions.

"What she did today was one of the greatest sporting events ever witnessed in Australia," said Makybe's trainer, Lee Freedman.

"Go and 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." Boss, who also rode Makybe Diva to victory in 2003 and 2004, burst into tears after returning to the winner's enclosure.

"She's immortal," said Boss, who broke his neck and was lucky not to have died after an horrific race fall in Macau in 2002.

"She's just such a gutsy, determined mare. I'm struggling for words."

Makybe Diva's owner, Croatian-born tuna fisherman Tony Santic, stunned the crowd by announcing he had decided to immediately retire the horse, allowing her to bow out on top.

"There is nothing left to prove," he said. "What she has done for me and the people around me and for the people of Australia, it's history and will never be forgotten."

Makybe Diva went into the race as clear favourite following one of the biggest betting plunges in Australian sporting history expected to top A$150 million. She paid A$3.60 to a A$1 stake for winning. Freedman had threatened to scratch her if the surface was too hard, fearing she might injure herself, but agreed to let her run after inspecting the track just hours before the race.

On a clear and hot day, with the nation holding its collective breath, Makybe Diva never gave her legion of followers any cause for concern.

Boss settled her midfield, one off the fence, after starting from a wide barrier and patiently threaded his way through the field before unleashing a devastating sprint in the last furlong that left her rivals in her wake.

On A Jeune, ridden by Darren Gauci, finished strongly to grab second, a length and a quarter behind the winner, with New Zealand derby winner Xcellent a further half length away third.

"It just seemed like destiny," Boss said.

Freedman, who also won the Melbourne Cup with Tawriffic (1989), Subzero (1992) and Doriemus (1995), said Makybe Diva deserved to be mentioned alongside Phar Lap, a national hero during the Great Depression. Only four other horses had won the Melbourne Cup twice before since the race was first held in 1861: Archer (1861, 1862), Peter Pan (1932, 1934), Rain Lover (1968, 1969) and Think Big (1974, 1975).

Results

Melbourne Cup

1. Makybe Diva (ridden by Glen Boss) 2. On A Jeune (Darren Gauci) 3. Xcellent (Michael Coleman) 24 ran
Distances: 1-º lengths, half a length. Winner trained in Australia by Lee Freedman,
Value to winner: A$3 million (US$2.3 million)

Tote: Win $3.60; places $2.00, $14.60, $5.80. ($1=A$1.33).

MakyBe diva factbox

Foaled in England, March 21, 1999
Owned by Croatian-born tuna fisherman Tony Santic.
Trained in Australia by Lee Freedman.
Regular jockey: Glen Boss
Sex: Mare. Sire: Desert King. Dam: Tugela
First race: Benalla three-year-old maiden plate, ran fourth.
First win: Wangaratta maiden plate, August 2002
Race record: 36 starts, 15 wins, four seconds, three thirds.
Major race wins: Melbourne Cup (2003, 2004, 2005), Sydney Cup (2004), Australian Cup (2005), Cox Plate (2005).
Career earnings: A$14,526,685 (US$10,922,231) ($1=A$1.33).