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Makybe Diva's a legend, officially
The incomparable Makybe Diva was elevated to Australian Racing Hall Of Fame legend status during the Australian Racehorse Of The Year awards dinner at Crown.
Makybe Diva joined immortals Phar Lap (2007), Bart Cummings (2008) and Scobie Breasley (2009) as racing's true legends.
The Melbourne Cup's only three-time winner sits comfortably in such august company in the Hall's most exclusive club.
Others have won more Group 1s or over a greater spread of races and distances, but no horse came close to Makybe Diva over 3200m or, for that matter, beyond 2400m.
Makybe Diva won the Sydney Cup and 2003-04-05 Melbourne Cups, the last when she lumped 58kg, a weight-setting record for a mare that she had set the year before.
Her only unplaced run over 3200m was a sixth in the Tenno Sho, Japan's greatest staying test.
She also won the BMW and Queen Elizabeth and was beaten a short half head by Elvstroem in the 2004 Caulfield Cup.
In her swan-song season, Makybe Diva was simply stunning.
She started the 2005 spring with a win in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) and failed by a short half head to catch Lad Of The Manor in the then Feehan Stakes (Dato Tan Chin Nam) over 1600m.
She then won the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) before her amazing Cox Plate (2040m) win when Glen Boss was seemingly on talking terms with those in the bleachers, so wide was the Diva in her blistering finish.
She then sealed her greatness with her third Melbourne Cup.
Moments after that win owner Tony Santic made the right call and announced her retirement.
Makybe Diva bowed out on an all-time high, her status franked forever.
Last night the Diva's ascension to legendary status was made official.
By Adrian Dunn, Herald Sun