Equestrian story by Carl Anders, Fri, 04 Nov 2005 01:04:00 GMT


Makybe Diva annihilated her 23 rivals to emerge victorious at the $3.8 million Melbourne Cup Handicap at Flemington on Tuesday. The 7-year-old mare commandeered by Greg Boss comfortably beat On a Jeune by 1 1/4 lengths to stamp her authority on a race that boasts of a long history starting 1861.

Xcellent finished third, while Irish invader Vinnie Roe had to be content with the eighth spot. Japanese challenger Eye Popper finished a creditable 12th. Distinction and Franklins Gardens languished at the 19th and 24th spots respectively in a race that had only one winner, Makybe Diva, who covered the two miles in 3:19.17 on a ground that is classified as dead or yielding ground.

In a fitting finale, Diva's owner Tony Santic and trainer Lee Freedman decided that the mare would bid adieu to professional racing on a high note. And what a high note! Trainer Lee Freedman won his fifth Melbourne Cup this year.

Makybe Diva, the British-bred daughter of Irish Derby winner Desert King, had a red-letter year in the past 12 months notching up five victories in Group 1 races including the Melbourne Cup twice, the 1 1/2-mile BMW Classic, the Australian Cup, and the 1 1/4-mile Cox Plate.

The seven-furlong Memsie Stakes and the 1 1/4-mile Turnbull Stakes were the Group 2 races that Diva conquered. With a total career earnings of $10,759,186, Makybe Diva retires as Australia's richest mare ever. The amount was earned courtesy 15 victories from 36 starts throughout her career.

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