Colic ends life of legendary mare Makybe Diva

Australian turf royalty has suffered a loss.

The remarkable three-time Melbourne Cup conqueror Makybe Diva lost her battle with colic on Saturday.

She etched her name in history as the only equine to secure consecutive Melbourne Cup triumphs in 2003, 2004 and 2005, prompting owner Tony Santic to declare her racing retirement right after the third win.

Makybe Diva's 2005 heroics saw her crowned Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, with key victories in the Australian Cup, BMW Stakes, Memsie Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate before capping it with the Melbourne Cup.

Entry to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame followed in the subsequent year, and she gained Legend Status back in 2010.

Beginning her career in the care of David Hall, she transitioned to Lee Freedman following Hall's move to Hong Kong for training, recording 15 triumphs from 36 attempts and collecting $14.5 million in stakes.

"From the day she came into our lives, she was never just a racehorse she was family," Santic said.

"She gave us moments Australia will never forget, but more than that, she gave us joy every single day.

"She was loved from the beginning, and she stayed loved for her whole life."

Disappointingly, the offspring from Makybe Diva fell short of her racing standards, leading to her breeding retirement, after which she resided at Santic's farm near Geelong.

To commemorate champions like Makybe Diva, check the online bookmakers offering markets on feature races such as the Melbourne Cup.