Makybe Diva - Definition and Overview

Makybe Diva is an Australian racehorse that won the Melbourne Cup 2003 and 2004. In doing so she became the first mare ever to win the cup twice, and the first horse to do so since 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). She was conceived in Ireland and born in Britain on 21/3/1999. Originally trained by David Hall, Makybe Diva made her racetrack debut in August 2002 as a four year old at a humble Maiden race in Benalla, Victoria. She finished a distant fourth that day, but she then proceeded to win three low grade provincial races in fine style, and made her metropolitan debut in an Open Handicap over 2000m at Flemington. She duly won there, and marked herself down as a promising stayer to watch with impressive over handy, but not outstanding fields in the Listed Werribee Cup and Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Makybe Diva returned briefly in the Autumn for two unspectacular showings over races that were not suited too her, by being over too short a distance. Also, Tony Santic and David Hall had greater plans in mind for the Spring. Makybe Diva resumed over shorter distance races in the Spring, and whilst being reasonably competitive, she did not make herself especially prominent. Duly, she was sent out a 14-1 outsider in the Caulfield Cup. In this race she was to commence her ultimately highly successful partnership with leading Sydney jockey Glen Boss. Coming from near last with 800m to go in the 2400m race, she hit the lead at the 400m mark, but faded to finish a close fourth. The first Tuesday in November 2003 was to be the making of this mare. Starting a $8 second favourite, Makybe Diva raced at the back of the field, and in the finishing straight, with a good deal of luck and skill, Glen Boss carved his way through the field, which could not match her superior staying ability. She won by one and a half legths, coming away from the field. Whilst this was, as any victory in the Melbourne Cup is, and exceptional effort, the relatively weak field for a race of this calibre meant that she could not be classed as a champion. That would have to wait until 2004. Makybe Diva's Autumn campaign bore a remarkable similarity to her first. The mare resumed in shorter distance races in which she performed well but did not challenge for a victory. Stayers, horses which race at their best over long distances often require a number of lead up races to reach peak fitness, so her relative uncompetitiveness should not be seen as a condemnation of her. However, following those she performed poorly in the Austrlian Cup, Ranvet Stakes and The BMW, all Group One races. Many skeptics believed she was another once off performer, not living up to the reputation built up by winning the Melbourne Cup. The Sydney Cup, whilst not as presitigious as the Melbourne event, is nevertheless a significant race to win, and win it she did. She raced in her favourite off the pace position, and charged home, although was not without competition, this time from the previously unheralded Manawa King, who matched her stride for stride down the Randwick straight. In a truly brave effort, Makybe managed to hold off Manawa by a neck, thereby becoming one of very few horses to win the Sydney Cup / Melbourne Cup double, and the only mare to do so. After the Autumn, her trainer, David Hall, left to train in Hong Kong, and she was taken over by Lee Freedman, who had prieviously had success in the Melbourne Cup with Doriemus in 1995, and is regarded as one of Austrlia's top trainers. Her campaign in Spring 2004, to try and win the Melbourne Cup for a second time, followed the familiar pattern of her previous Cup winning campaigns, although it could be said she was racing better than ever. A close second in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley, a race in which she had no right to be competitive, underlined the point. 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, only 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. The mare defeated one of the strongest Melbourne Cup fields in years, featuring multiple Irish St. Leger winner Vinnie Roe, Caulfield Cup winners Mummify (2003) and Elvstroem (2004), highly regarded European stayer Mamool from the Godolphin stable, as well as the 2002 Melbourne Cup winner, Media Puzzle. This was a race in which there were no possible charges for the critics to lay against her. She had beaten the best, in difficult wet conditions, carrying a siginificant weight, and had done it with ease. Makybe Diva is unquestionably a champion stayer of the modern era.

Tony Santic and Lee Freedman have ambitions for Makybe Diva to race in the world's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2005. Undoubtedly, Australia, in paerticular a small fishing town in South Australia called Port Lincoln, where Tony Santic hails from, will be cheering her on.