| MELBOURNE, Australia --
Makybe Diva became the first horse to win the Melbourne Cup
three times in a row, beating On A Jeune by 1 1/4 lengths
Tuesday at Flemington in Australia's richest and most famous
race.
The 7-year-old English-born mare, ridden by Glen Boss and
owned tuna fisherman Tony Santic, finished her career with the
victory in the $3.8 million race.
"I think to ask any more of this mare would not be fair,"
Santic said.
Trainer Lee Freedman agreed with the decision to retire
Makybe Diva.
"I think it's a fabulous decision ... to go out on such a
winning note," Freedman said. "It's been a great ride and I
think it's come to an end in the perfect way. ... We will never
see anything like her again."
Boss also rode Makybe Diva in her other two Melbourne Cup
victories.
"What a great mare. She's just unbelievable and gives you so
much confidence," said Boss, the first jockey to win the race
three straight times.
Makybe Diva won 15 of her 36 starts and earned more than
$10.8 million. She was named by taking the first two letters of
the names of five women who work in Santic's tuna factory --
Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Diane and Vanessa.
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