Makybe Diva became a Melbourne Cup legend after leaving Flemington
Melbourne Cup queen Makybe Diva thrived at Flemington but it was ironically a move away from there which prolonged her career.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Makybe Diva is the Queen of Flemington and will steal the show on Saturday 20 years on from her first Melbourne Cup victory, but her first trainer says getting her away from headquarters might have been the pivotal moment of her career.
David Hall said it was his advice to get his superstar out of Flemington and to Lee Freedman’s training property outside of Melbourne when he got the call-up to train in Hong Kong, something which proved to be a winning move.
Now 25 years old, Makybe Diva will be the star of the show at Flemington on Saturday ahead of the race named in her honour when she returns in front of a crowd for the first time since the last leg of her Cup three-peat in 2005.
“I saw something saying that she was going to turn up there at Flemington, it’s not a bad effort considering she’s 25,” Hall told Racenet from Hong Kong.
“She had a few wins there for me, obviously the big one (in 2003), but there were a few others including when she won on protest, which was important because it kept her sequence of six wins going.
“We trained her at Flemington, it was actually my advice to send her to Freedman’s when I was finishing up because I didn’t think she’d last long if she stayed there.
“She was going to be going around in circles, and going mad.
“The cut in the ground helped her and it was better for her to be trained out at the property, she went from strength to strength.”
Despite having her colours lowered in Japan in the 2005 Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m), Hall said Makybe Diva would have no problems in the Melbourne Cup in the current era littered with European raiders.
“It didn’t matter where she went, she was pretty good, except for Japan it turns out, it was a rock-hard track that day and brought her undone,” he said.
“She proved herself on more than one occasion, she was the superior stayer of her time and I don’t think she’d have any problem holding her own these days.
“We talk about travelling the sprinters overseas and all of that, it’s just a shame she didn’t show her best when she went overseas to Japan.
“She could definitely compete at international level at two miles as she just got better each preparation, even though she was always six months behind.
“It started out as a big backwards filly and a weak mare who grew into a big strong thing that got better and better.”
Despite missing out on two more Melbourne Cups and a Cox Plate, Hall said he has no regrets in accepting the offer to train in Hong Kong.
The veteran trainer enjoyed his best season last year and is confident he has emerging stock in his stable to keep the ball rolling after an opening day winner at Sha Tin on Sunday.
“I’m coming up for my 20th season in Hong Kong, I had the best season I’ve ever had last season too,” he said.
“I have a Chinese wife and a couple of young kids, it is a good stint and it has been very nice to me.”
Originally published as Makybe Diva became a Melbourne Cup legend after leaving Flemington
Racing heavyweights endorse The Everest’s ‘deserved’ Group 1 status
The Everest and All-Star Mile have been announced as freshly-minted Group 1 races.
Japanese stayer to hit Warp Speed in Melbourne Cup
Competitive efforts in top staying races in his homeland should ensure Japanese stayer Warp Speed will be competitive in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.