Three Best Moments In The History Of The Melbourne Cup

For horse racing enthusiasts, this year is going to be hugely exciting. The Cheltenham Festival has already started and the Grand National is set to happen in April. Meanwhile, the Melbourne Cup 2021 will take place in November this year, bringing together some of the best horses to compete at the Flemington Racecourse while also providing many lucrative betting opportunities for punters. 

1- Phar Lap 

Phar Lap was one of the best racehorses ever who dominated Australian racing during the early years of the Great Depression. His distinguished career saw him winning two Cox Plates, two Melbourne Stakes, and an AJC Derby. 

However, one of his most memorable victories came in the 1930 Melbourne Cup – the most prestigious horse racing event in Australia. The legendary racehorse entered as a top favourite at 8/11 and went on to claim a stunning victory, despite carrying a 63 kg handicap. 

2- Old Rowley 

Nobody could have imagined a victory for Old Rowley in the 1940 Melbourne Cup. The racehorse was in a dismal form and hadn’t claimed a victory in two years. He wasn’t even backed by his owner who considered him a lost cause. 

However, his jockey wasn’t ready to give up so soon and chose to run him in the famous thoroughbred horse race. And the rider was proved right in his decision as Old Rowley staged a spectacular display to outclass the favourite horse Beau Vite and claim the prestigious Melbourne Cup. 

3- Makybe Diva 

Only five racehorses have managed to win the Melbourne Cup on more than one occasion. Archer achieved this honour by winning the first two editions of the prestigious race before Peter Pan, Rain Lover, and Think Big repeated this remarkable feat. 

However, their successes pale in comparison to Makybe Diva’s achievements as the Lee Freedman-trained racehorse has won the Melbourne Cup three years in a row. One can argue about who the best strikers in Premier League history are, but they cannot do such a thing when talking about who the best horse in the history of the Melbourne Cup is. 

Makybe Diva got herself into a brilliant position to make history when she picked up victories in 2003 and 2004 at the Flemington Racecourse. However, many experts were not convinced that the British bred racehorse could pull off a victory in the 2005 Melbourne Cup as she was carrying more than the weight-for-age handicap. 

Defying expectations, the amazing mare gave a stunning performance once again to win the race and immortalize her name in the history of horse racing. She also won many other prestigious races, including the Sydney Cup, Australian Cup, Cox Plate, and The BMW Stakes.