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The Australian racing world is in deep mourning following the passing of the legendary Melbourne Cup champion, Makybe Diva, who has died at the age of 26.
The celebrated mare succumbed on Saturday morning to a sudden attack of colic, marking the end of an era for one of Australia’s most revered racehorses.
Makybe Diva holds a unique place in racing history as the sole horse ever to clinch three consecutive Melbourne Cup titles, achieving this remarkable streak in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Her dominance during this period cemented her status as a racing icon.
She formed a famous partnership with jockey Glen Boss, who rode her in each of her Melbourne Cup victories, including her unforgettable third win in 2005 when she carried a record weight to victory before being immediately retired.
‘She left a very big footprint in our history, in Australian history, because it doesn’t get much more Australian than the Melbourne Cup,’ Boss said.
The racing world is mourning the death of legendary mare Makybe Diva who won three Melbourne Cups in a row
An emotional Glen Boss celebrating another win on Makybe Diva, the pair forming an unbreakable bond
Makybe Diva’s feats are unlikely to ever be replicated and she will always be remembered as the greatest of all time
‘And I’m still blown away by the relevance in other people. They can tell me exactly who they were with, where they were when they watched it, the third (win).
‘I get more emotional about her because at the end of the day she was the one who did all of it, I just had to not disappoint. My job was very simple, just don’t disappoint the athlete, make sure I did the right thing by her and had her in the right spot,’ he said.
‘I go down and see her every year. She’s 26 now, so she’s not going to be here with us that much longer, so I make sure I get down and see her, spend some time with her. It’s always really emotional, and pretty cool at the same time.’
Beyond her Melbourne Cup heroics, Makybe Diva compiled one of the most remarkable résumés ever assembled by an Australian racehorse, winning a string of elite races including the Cox Plate, Sydney Cup, Australian Cup and Turnbull Stakes.
Heartbroken owner Tony Šantić confirmed the news, saying: ‘She was never just a racehorse, she was family’.
‘From the day she came into our lives, she was never just a race horse, she was family. 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, she stayed loved for her whole life,’ the family said in a statement.
‘Makybe Diva was a champion that did the impossible,’ SEN race caller Gareth Hall posted.
‘Three Melbourne Cups is something we most likely won’t see again. Cox Plate along the way.’
Glen Boss and owner Tony Šantić celebrate yet another Melbourne Cup victory with the champion mare
Australian jockey Craig Newitt posted: ‘We will never see another like her’.
The sentiment was echoed across the racing world, where Makybe Diva had long been regarded as the benchmark against which all future Melbourne Cup champions would be measured.
Her three consecutive victories in Australia’s most famous race remain one of the rarest achievements in global horse racing, with no horse before or since able to match her historic streak.
Makybe Diva was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2006 following the 2005 season in which she also took out the Cox Plate, Australian Cup, BMW Stakes, Memsie Stakes and Turnbull Stakes, as well as the Melbourne Cup.
VRC chairman Neil Wilson expressed his condolences to all of her connections.
‘Makybe Diva was more than a champion – she truly transcended the sport of racing. Her three consecutive Melbourne Cup victories stand among the most iconic achievements in Australian sporting history, and the memories she created will never be forgotten,’ he said.
‘Our heartfelt condolences go out to her connections, and to the broader racing community who will feel the significance of this loss.’