Record-breaking Thoroughbred Makybe Diva is one of the most famous and accomplished racehorses in Australian history.
The British-bred, Australian-trained racehorse is the only winner of three consecutive Melbourne Cups, (2003, 2004, 2005) and has also claimed victories in the Australian Cup, BMW Stakes, the Werribee Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Twice named Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, she is the only horse to win both the Sydney and Melbourne Cups in the same season.
Sired by double Irish Classics winner Desert King, Makybe Diva was foaled in 1999 in the U.K before being shipped to Australia with her dam, Tugela. She was initially trained by top trainer David Hall, before switching to Lee Freedman in 2004 after Hall moved to Hong Kong.
Makybe Diva made her race debut July 2002 as a three-year-old, coming fourth at Benalla, Victoria. She was upgraded to a four-year-old when she ran again three weeks later and secured her first victory. It was the start of a six-race winning streak and Makybe Diva began to emerge as a racing talent.
After a shaky start the 2003-2004 season, she came from the back to win her first Melbourne Cup in November 2003 by a length and a half. She repeated the twice more, setting history in 2005 by becoming the first ever horse to claim victory three times and in consecutive years.
After glory on the track, Makybe Diva was retired and started breeding. She produced four foals in total including Rockstardom, who as a yearling, sold at auction for $1.5million AUD.
