MELBOURNE, Nov 1: Makybe Diva, brilliantly ridden by Glen Boss, won Tuesday’s 145th running of the Melbourne Cup to become the first horse to triumph three times in Australia’s greatest race.

The seven-year-old mare burst to the front 200 metres from home then sprinted clear to win the gruelling A$5 million (US$3.8 million) 3,200m handicap for the third year running in front of a record crowd at Flemington racecourse.

On A Jeune ridden by Darren Gauci finished strongly to grab second, a length and a quarter behind, and New Zealand Derby winner Xcellent was a close third but neither could stop Makybe Diva from rewriting history.

“She’s immortal,” an emotional Boss said. “She’s just such a gutsy, determined mare. I’m struggling for words.”

Trainer Lee Freedman said Makybe Diva deserved her place in ths history books alongside Phar Lap, a national hero during the Great Depression, as Australia’s greatest racehorse.

“I don’t want to run Phar Lap down but I never saw Phar Lap win three Melbourne Cups,” Freedman said.

“Go and 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.”

Makybe Diva’s owner, Croatian-born tuna fisherman Tony Santic, announced the horse would immediately be retired. Her record stood at 36 starts for 15 wins and A$14.4 million in earnings, a record for an Australian horse.

Apart from her three Melbourne Cups, she also won a Sydney Cup, an Australian Cup and a Cox Plate.

On a clear and hot day, with the nation at a standstill for Australia’s most celebrated race, Makybe Diva never gave her legion of followers any cause for concern.

The subject of one of the biggest betting plunges in Australian history, Makybe Diva settled midfield before working her way through the field to hit the front a furlong from home.

Only four other horses had won the Melbourne Cup twice before: Archer (1861, 1862), Peter Pan (1932, 1934), Rain Lover (1968, 1969) and Think Big (1974, 1975).

Makybe Diva is the only mare among the five multiple winners.

Result

1. Makybe Diva (ridden by Glen Boss) 2. On A Jeune (Darren Gauci) 3. Xcellent (Michael Coleman) 24 ran Distances: 1- lengths, half a length Winner trained in Australia by Lee Freedman Value to winner: A$3 million (US$2.3 million) Tote: Win $3.60; places $2.00, $14.60, $5.80. ($1=A$1.33).—Reuters