Makybe Diva - Season 2005-2006 (Melbourne Cup 3)

Season 2005-2006 (Melbourne Cup 3)

Resuming racing in August 2005, Makybe Diva won the Group 2 Memsie Stakes first up, before being defeated by a nose in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Two weeks later, with a run down the outside of the field Makybe Diva won the Turnbull Stakes over 2,000 m at Flemington. The mare further enhanced her reputation despite being eight horses wide on the home turn, with a comfortable victory in the 2005 Cox Plate subsequently beating 2006 winner Fields Of Omagh.

Prior to the Melbourne Cup there was doubt about whether Makybe Diva would start, after her connections said she would not run if the track was "too firm". After the VRC decided to water the track, however, she was declared a starter. On 1 November 2005, Makybe Diva created history in winning a record third Melbourne Cup. Settling towards the back of the field, she steadily made ground in between runners around the home turn, before hitting the lead with around 300m to go and holding a comfortable 1 1/4 length margin at the finish. Immediately after the race trainer Lee Freedman said:

"Go 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."

The win was not without controversy, however. Many, including rival trainers, suggested the track watering amounted to bad sportsmanship employed to give Makybe Diva the best chance to win the race. However, it is notable that the track condition was upgraded to good straight after the Cup, and the winning time of 3:19.18 was consistent with that rating.

Makybe Diva carried 58 kg during the record third Melbourne Cup, 2 kg above the standard weight-for-age scale. The last horse to carry more than weight-for-age and win was Rain Lover, who was 1 kg over when he won his second cup in 1969, with 60.5 kg. Makybe Diva, who broke her own weight-carrying record for a mare of 55.5 kg, which she set in 2004, was the highest-weighted winner of the Cup since Think Big won his second Melbourne Cup with 58.5 kg in 1975. During the presentation of the Melbourne Cup, owner Tony Šantić announced that Makybe Diva would "retire from racing as of today".

At the end of the 2005 - 2006 season Makybe Diva was named Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year for the second time, becoming just the third horse to win that accolade more than once. She was also named Australian Champion Stayer, winning this award for the third consecutive year as well as Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse.