Wonder Race: Who will win the battle to be crowned Australia’s greatest racehorse?

The chances of Makybe Diva’s feat of winning three successive Melbourne Cups being matched is remote, while Tulloch’s deeds on the racetrack moved legendary trainer TJ Smith to tears — twice. Both are worthy entrants in the Wonder Race. WATCH THE VIDEO

• Wonder Race: Winx favourite to beat the best

• Wonder Race form guide: Bernborough and Octagonal

“Go and find the smallest child on the course and they will be the only person who may live long enough to see this again.’’

This was trainer Lee Freedman’s famous quote after Makybe Diva’s historic third successive Melbourne Cup in 2005. The chances of this feat ever being repeated is remote because Makybe Diva is the greatest staying mare Australian racing has seen.

Makybe Diva was like a good red wine, she did get better with age.

Field for the Wonder Race. Art: Irene Sclavos

As a seven-year-old mare, she reached her peak during the 2005 spring carnival with her win in the Cox Plate preceding her third Melbourne Cup.

The build-up to Makybe Diva’s Cup three-peat bid was extraordinary but Freedman and jockey Glen Boss had the crushing demands of the media and the burden of public expectation to deliver a famous win.

Wonder Race form guide: Peter Pan and Lonhro

Wonder Race to reveal if Winx is best of all time

The headline writers had Makybe Diva as “Better than Phar Lap” after her third Melbourne Cup win and many still believe the champion mare’s unique Cup hat-trick should be recognised at the most outstanding achievement by any racehorse in Australian turf history.

But was Makybe Diva the greatest racehorse of them all?

She gets her chance to prove her worth in “The Wonder Race”, created by The Daily Telegraph to try and determine who was the best racehorse of them all.

Makybe Diva — What you need to know: Art: Irene Sclavos

Makybe Diva’s opponents are the “who’s who” of Australian racing including Phar Lap, Carbine, Bernborough, Kingston Town, Peter Pan, Lonhro, Octagonal, Might And Power, Winx, Sunline and Tulloch.

The late, great Tommy Smith is the only trainer with two runners in “The Wonder Race’, Kingston Town and Tulloch.

Smith found it difficult to separate his two great champions but Tulloch was probably the only horse that moved him to tears – twice.

It is said Smith had to wipe away tears after Tulloch made a triumphant return to racing after nearly two years out with illness when he defeated Lord narrowly in a thrilling Queen’s Plate. The other occasion was Tulloch’s Brisbane Cup win in his farewell race.

Tulloch was an outstanding racehorse, winning 36 of his 53 starts - he only missed a place once and that was the 1960 Melbourne Cup when he had to carry 64kg.

Tulloch — What you need to know. Art: Irene Sclavos

Both Makybe Diva and Tulloch will have their supporters in “The Wonder Race”.

A reader poll has been set-up on Twitter where using the #TheWonderRace you can have your say on who might win.

Over the next few days, revered racecaller John Tapp and myself will discuss the merits of each of the 12 runners at www.dailytelegraph.com.au.

Form guru Gary Crispe has used his exclusive Timeform ratings to analyse the chances of all 12 runners.

Then on Wednesday, April 10, just three days before Winx’s farewell race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Tapp will call a simulated race, “The Wonder Race” live at 12.30pm at www.dailytelegraph.com.au.