Who is your favourite racehorse of the past two decades? You decide

WHO is Australia’s most popular racehorse of the past two decades? We let you decide, with the winner revealed on Melbourne Cup Day. BACK YOUR BESTIE

WHO is Australia’s most favourite racehorse of the past two decades?

We want you to decide.

Obviously, it’s hard to argue outside the world’s best racehorse Winx, maybe the unbeaten Black Caviar and, as a roughie’s chance, triple Melbourne Cup great Makybe Diva.

But don’t be mistaken, there are many variables in play when comes to the love of a racehorse.

Whether they’ve led home the field in the Caulfield Cup or finished down the track at Tatura, we will forever have our favourites.

So we’ve pulled together a capacity Melbourne Cup field of 24 starters and we want you to chose who will stand alone as our most liked racehorse.

Simply cast you vote, which will remain secret until we reveal the winner on Melbourne Cup Day, when we will publish the 24 candidates in order of popularity.

THE CONTENDERS

DUNADEN

Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner who is believed to have shared a French paddock with greyhounds as a yearling. This was later attributed to his nature to flatten his ears back and stretch out close to the ground — whether fact or fiction, it was a running style that won him many hearts.

Dunaden pins his ears back and hits the accelerator in the 2012 Caulfield Cup.

MAKYBE DIVA

The line ‘When a champion becomes a legend’ will forever be etched in the memories of those lucky enough to witness her third Melbourne Cup victory. Became the first horse to win three Cups and achieved the remarkable feat in consecutive years (2003-05). Also won a Cox Plate. Built her reputation on strength and heart.

Makybe Diva and Glen Boss after winning the 2005 Melbourne Cup.

MUMMIFY

Courageous front-running heavyweight who won the 2003 Caulfield Cup. Mummify’s career was cut short when he broke down in the 2005 Caulfield Cup after running third as topweight. Trainer Lee Freedman’s despair post-race when learning of Mummify’s fate reiterated his popularity to the stable and fans.

A shattered Lee Freedman wipes some tears after Mummify broke down in the 2005 Caulfield Cup.

LONHRO

Nicknamed the ‘Black Flash’, Lonhro won 26 races, including 11 Group 1s, in a career spanning four years. Known more as a Sydney sprinter-miler, but winning up to 2000m, he was probably best remembered for his win the 2004 Australian Cup when he overcame great adversity to get up in the final stride, a moment captured beautifully by racecaller Greg Miles.

Red Cadeaux (left) loses the 2011 Melbourne Cup to Dunaden, with the official result taking an eternity because it was so tight.

RED CADEAUX

Everyone loves the guy that goes down swinging. This English chestnut epitomised that trait in spades when he finished runner-up on three occasions in our most famous race — the Melbourne Cup, including the narrowest of defeats to Dunaden in 2011.

WHO SHOT THEBARMAN

Longevity and a little ability carries you far on a racetrack. Throw in a catchy name and you’re almost assured of greatness. Who Shot Thebarman carries all three traits with aplomb. A two-mile specialist, winning a Sydney Cup and finishing second in 2015 and 2017, he has also ran in three Melbourne Cups, which included one placing. And he may not be done yet, with another Melbourne Cup campaign still in play as a 10-year-old.

Queensland legend Buffering was always well received in Melbourne.

BUFFERING

The Queensland warhorse remarkably took until his 36th start as a six-year-old to register his first Group 1 victory. But when he did, he didn’t look back winning three in succession and seven in total. Racing against the likes of Black Caviar and Chautauqua, he was never one to shirk a challenge and finished on top of the world with Group 1 success in Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.

Trainer Joe Janiak dressed to the nines with Takeover Target during one of their Royal Ascot visits.

TAKEOVER TARGET

The ultimate rages-to-riches horse racing fairytale. Bought for just $1250 because of serious leg and joint issues by Queanbeyan taxi driver Joe Janiak, Takeover Target would go on to win eight races at Group 1 level and earn more than $6 million in stakes. He made four trips to Royal Ascot as well as racing in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Joe and Takeover liked to share the occasional glass of whiskey in triumph.

Apache Cat was a real head-turner wherever he went and understandably so.

APACHE CAT

Was always destined to be the people’s champion with his unique baldy face and white feet. The hulking chestnut won five consecutive Group 1s in 2008 and eight overall. If it was a contest based on looks alone, he would win in a canter.

CHAUTAUQUA

At his best he was an unbelievable sprinter with seven Group 1s, at his worst, he wasn’t going anyway … as was the case when the champ recently failed a pivotal barrier trial — leading to his retirement. His last-to-first finishes in three incredible TJ Smith Stakes and a breathtaking Hong Kong win sent his popularity into overdrive.

Tassie double act Mick Burles and The Cleaner were big hits at The Valley.

THE CLEANER

The Cleaner and his knockabout larrikin trainer Mick Burles became household names when news grew of their travels across Bass Strait on the Spirit Of Tasmania to plunder Victorian riches. The first Tasmanian-trained horse to compete in the Cox Plate, finishing ninth in 2014 and seventh in 2015. With his bold front-running style and Burles’ hankering for nervy pre-and-post-race ciggies, they won over many fans.

WINX

Arguably our greatest racehorse of all-time with a fourth consecutive Cox Plate now tucked away in the trophy cabinet. With 29 consecutive wins, almost $23 million in prizemoney and a world benchmark of 22 Group 1 successes, it’s easy to understand why she is currently recognised as the world’s best racehorse. For more than three years, Winx has been able to overcome everything thrown at her — quality rivals, wet or dry tracks, different distances.

No one could get past the great Black Caviar in all of her 25 starts.

BLACK CAVIAR

Never beaten. Never. Whether in a trial or competing on a racetrack champion mare Black Caviar was unbeaten on every occasion. Twenty-five times she remained undefeated in races, including 15 Group 1 victories and was named world champion sprinter for four consecutive years. Could have raced on, with trainer Peter Moody saying: “the connections of the horse and I decided 25 was a great number” when announcing her retirement.

HAPPY CLAPPER

Let’s hope we haven’t seen the last of him after he bled from both nostrils and incurred a mandatory three-month ban at Flemington in the early spring. Long-time Sydney favourite, he was a super popular winner of an Epsom Handicap and Doncaster Mile last year. The Clapper sits 13th on the all-time prizemoney list such is his consistency.

TOM MELBOURNE

Just for quirkiness alone, this fellow must get a ticket. His ability to finish second on no less than nine occasions since his last victory is legendary. He lights up Twitter every time he goes around and was somehow backed into favouritism on Caulfield Cup Day before missing out. Loyalty to a racehorse is considered a sure way to financial ruin, but the masses still fall for his flawed nature.

SUNLINE

Being tied with only Black Caviar and Winx as three-time Australian horse of the Year sums up her ability at the elite level, though you could poke more holes in Sunline than the others. A dual Cox Plate winner and victor over Hong Kong champion Fairy King Prawn in the 2000 Hong Kong Mile, it was her longevity that endeared her to fans. She just kept going.

Hard to go past this fellow: Subzero visits a primary school as part of an education program on horse health and safety.

SUBZERO

No other way to describe him than a national treasure. Affectionately known as ‘Subbie’, the old boy earned another nomination for Australian of the year on the eve of his 30th birthday this year despite being ineligible. He’s a horse after all. His visits — with best mate Graham Salisbury by his side — to nursing homes, schools and hospitals have touched more hearts than we will ever be able to remember. Oh, and he won a Melbourne Cup. Gets into field for his deeds off the track for past two decades.

NORTHERLY

Nicknamed The Fighting Tiger, the Fred Kersley-trained West Australian won nine Group 1s, including two Cox Plates, two Australian Cups and a Caulfield Cup. Not a bad resume, but what made him a favourite of punters was his never-say-die attitude. Wouldn’t lie down, he really was a tenacious Tiger.

The late Ross McDonald with his champion racehorse Weekend Hussler.

WEEKEND HUSSLER

Dominated the 2008 season when he won an incredible five Group 1s and a Memsie Stakes and Makybe Stakes when they were listed as Group 2s. The late Ross McDonald’s entertaining demeanour post-race also contributed to the sprinter-miler’s popularity.

HAY LIST

If only Black Caviar hadn’t been around. Hay List won three Group 1s, but it was his brave performances behind the mighty mare that saw his popularity soar. Four times he finished runner-up to Black Caviar as he fought off a history of hoof and leg problems.

GRAND ARMEE

Six-time Group 1 winner and Sydney favourite. Trained by Gai Waterhouse, Grand Armee’s biggest win was the 2003 Doncaster Handicap. He was also responsible for one of the big upsets of the turf when he beat Lonhro who was having his final race.

ZIPPING

Owner Lloyd Williams once called Zipping his friend and his greatest horse in all his years of racing. Fair praise. Won four consecutive Sandown Classics from 2007-2010, a race renamed in his honour, and finished fourth in three Melbourne Cups.

With the nickname Elvis, Elvstroem was always going to be a crowd favourite

ELVSTROEM

Affectionately known as Elvis to his band of loyal followers, Elvstroem shot to the top of the hit parade following his VRC Derby success and stayed there with his Caulfield Cup success the following spring. Had three other national hits before international acclaim came in Dubai Duty Free Stakes in Dubai.

TIE THE KNOT

Won two Sydney Cups and four consecutive Chipping Norton Stakes — something even Winx cannot lay claim to with only three of her own. Monstered all-comers in Sydney with 13 Group 1s, but probably damaged his popularity south of the border with failed campaigns.

Notable mentions: Bomber Bill, So You Think, Fields Of Omagh, More Joyous, Redzel, Miss Finland, Jameka, Efficient, Desert War, County Tyrone, Boban, Lankee Rupee, Shogun Lodge, Aqua D’Amore, Spirit Of Boom, Criterion, All Too Hard, Temple Of Boom, Brew, Scenic Blast, Gold Edition, Miss Andretti, Testa Rossa, Theseo, Hartnell, Destiny’s Kiss, Pierro, Miracles Of Life, El Segundo, Rangirangdoo, Miss Andretti, Falvelon, Star Spangled Banner, Choisir, Bash Boy, Black And Bent and so many more.

** Might And Power and Doremius were just outside the 20-year time frame.