A mating match made in heaven will see iconic, three-time Melbourne Cup winning mare Makybe Diva be covered by the former racing great turned leading sire Lonhro.
Rising 12 year old Desert King mare Makybe Diva become the first horse in history to secure three successive Melbourne Cup victories during her golden reign in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Makybe Diva was retired after her impeccable 2005 spring racing campaign that also included victories in the Cox Plate and the Turnbull Stakes in Melbourne.
With a stunning record that saw her amass over $14.5 million in prizemoney, the British-bred Makybe Diva is still considered the best ever Australian race mare.
Lonhro, a son of boom Kiwi sire Octagonal, was another champion racehorse boasting an impressive record.
Having earned over $5.7 million in career prizemoney, Lonhro was retired to stud back in 2004 following multiple Group 1 victories including the George Ryder Stakes.
While Lonhro and Makybe Diva are set to get up close and personal now, during their racing careers they only came head-to-head on the track once.
They met in the 2004 Australian Cup, won by Lonhro ahead of a sixth-placed Makybe Diva.
Declared by Darley Stud, where Lonhro resides, Australian thoroughbred racing fans, punters and enthusiasts will be over the moon with this spring match.
Makybe Diva is currently pregnant with her fourth foal, to be born next month.
She has previously foaled two colts and a filly.
Her colt bred from Irish Derby winner Galileo in 2007, named Rockstardom, sold as a yearling for a massive $1.5 million.
Rockstardom’s trainer Danny O’Brien has the youngster preparing for their race debut.
What will become of this match is sure to be another turf star and possibly a Melbourne Cup winner of the future and one can only guess what the foal will sell for.
Experts have said the colt or filly could fetch up to $5 million as a yearling and become the most expensive Southern Hemisphere-bred yearling in history.
This year’s Melbourne Cup marks the celebrated 150th running of the testing handicap and with nominations closing next Tuesday, there is plenty to get excited about.
With the announcement of the 2010 Melbourne Cup nominations, which will be published here at Races.com.au, Sportsbet will also open up their Cup betting markets.
So sign up at Sportsbet today and get ready to make your selections on the $6 million Melbourne Cup to be run at Flemington on Tuesday November 2.
