A pillar of Australian horse racing has been lost.

Makybe Diva, the only three-peat Melbourne Cup champion, died on Saturday due to colic.

Her record-breaking streak of Melbourne Cup wins in 2003, 2004 and 2005 remains unparalleled, leading owner Tony Santic to retire her immediately following the third conquest.

The 2005 season brought her Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year accolade, fueled by conquests in the Australian Cup, BMW Stakes, Memsie Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup finale.

Australian Racing Hall of Fame membership arrived the year thereafter, complemented by Legend Status in 2010.

David Hall oversaw her early races before she moved to Lee Freedman amid Hall’s shift to Hong Kong training, yielding 15 successes in 36 starts and $14.5 million in winnings.

“From the day she came into our lives, she was never just a racehorse she was family,” Santic said.

“She gave us moments Australia will never forget, but more than that, she gave us joy every single day.

“She was loved from the beginning, and she stayed loved for her whole life.”

Alas, Makybe Diva’s produce did not echo her racing brilliance, prompting breeding retirement, with the mare then residing at Santic’s farm adjacent to Geelong.

Keep the spirit of Makybe Diva’s Melbourne Cup era alive by reviewing betting sites for prominent race wagering.