MELBOURNE, Australia, (AFP) - Champion Australian mare Makybe Diva rewrote Melbourne Cup history and made light of rainswept conditions to clinch back-to-back wins in the country's greatest horse race here Tuesday.
Makybe Diva became the first mare to claim the Cup twice in its 143-year history and established a weight-carrying record for a mare in the 3,200-metre (2 mile) race of 55.5kg at Flemington.
The 5-2 favourite, ridden by Glen Boss and giving trainer Lee Freedman his fourth Cup, flashed through along the rail about 200 metres (one furlong) from home to hold off champion Irish stayer Vinnie Roe (5-1) and land the 3.3 million US dollar Cup.
Makybe Diva became the fifth horse to twice win the Melbourne Cup, after Archer (1861-62), Peter Pan (1932-34), Rain Lover (1968-69) and Think Big (1974-75).
Vinnie Roe, attempting to give Irish trainer Dermot Weld his third win in the Melbourne Cup after previous wins by Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle, was pulling ground off Makybe Diva nearing the post but the gallant mare held on to a one and a quarter length winning margin in the wet conditions.
Freedman said he had a strong feeling that Makybe Diva would win the race.
"It was like having a present under the tree and I couldn't open it until after the race," he said.
"To take her over from (Hong Kong-based trainer) David Hall and to repeat it, and to break history to have to do it, is an amazing thing - it's a great feeling.
"I'm just lucky that I'm here today to be able to enjoy it and having won my fourth Melbourne Cup."
Outsider Zazzman (100-1), who was up with the leading bunch midway through the race, was third a further two and a half lengths away.
Makybe Diva was carrying four and a half kilograms more this year after her 2003 triumph but she was sent out the favourite ahead of Vinnie Roe, who firmed as the rain tumbled down. They were the only two runners under double-figures in the betting.
She remains unbeaten after three runs over 3200m -- two Melbourne Cups and a Sydney Cup.
Winning jockey Glen Boss stuck to the rail and extricated Makybe Diva into the clear after being in eighth place at the 800m.
Approaching the home turn he was presented a dream run on the inside and Makybe Diva accelerated to the front inside the 200m to open up a winning break over Vinnie Roe.
"That's how I ride. They either look unlucky getting beaten or I look a genius," Boss said.
"It was great training performance by Lee. She was trained to the minute."
A start for Vinnie Roe was only decided on race morning after a track inspection by trainer Weld and momentarily it appeared to be the right decision when the seven-year-old ranged up with the leaders before Makybe Diva made her winning dash.
Weld paid tribute to the courage of his champion stayer under the topweight of 58kgs and indicated that Vinnie Roe may be back next year for a third crack at the race.
Vinnie Roe, the four-time Irish St Leger winner, was attempting to emulate Bart Cummings' double champion Think Big in 1975 who was the last Melbourne Cup winner to carry 58kgs.
Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem finished fourth in the Cup and English trainer Michael Stoute's 12-1 chance Distinction was sixth ahead of the Dubai-based Godolphin stable's number one runner Mamool, the mount of Frankie Dettori and starting at 25-1.
Mamool's stablemate, the 40-1 hope Razkalla, ridden by Australian Kerrin McEvoy, finished ninth.
Weld's second runner Media Puzzle (20-1) came in 12th in only his third start since his 2002 Cup success after tendon problems.
Steady rain began falling two hours before the Cup, changing the track reading from good to dead.
11/02/2004 - 07:21 GMT - AFP