Melbourne Cup Winners
Billed as ‘the race that stops a nation’, the Melbourne Cup has played host to more than its fair share of legendary racehorses. Because the Melbourne Cup is open to horses in different age groups, great racehorses have the opportunity to race in the event several times and establish themselves as legendary Melbourne Cup winners.
Archer
In 1861 Archer became the first horse to win the Melbourne Cup. Legend has it that the great racehorse walked over 400 miles from New South Wales to Victoria to compete in the race. Archer was back at Flemington Racecourse for the first renewal of the Melbourne Cup in 1862, and sealed his legendary status by winning the race for a second time.
Although Archer never won another Melbourne Cup, his failure to qualify for the third edition of the race did nothing more than add to his legend. Due to a bureaucratic bungle Archer was refused entry to the third Melbourne Cup, and created a furore by being deprived of the opportunity to win the race for the third consecutive year.
Phar Lap
Without a doubt one of the greatest racehorses to emerge from Oceania, Phar Lap graced Flemington Racecourse for the first time in 1930. Carrying over 9 stone, Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup, setting the stage for a remarkable string of 14 unbeaten runs which included the Victoria Derby of 1931.
In 1931 Phar Lap raced at Flemington Park Racecourse again, but with bookmakers wary of the horse’s talent he was handed a handicap of 10 stone 10 pounds, a weight that proved sufficient to prevent him from taking a second Melbourne Cup winners title.
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is not only the highest stakes winner in the history of Australian horseracing, but also the only horse to have won the Melbourne Cup on three occasions. When Makybe Diva won the Melbourne Cup she became only the 14th mare to win the prestigious race.
The following year Makybe Diva made history again when she won the Melbourne Cup for a second consecutive year, becoming only the fifth horse to take more than one Melbourne Cup winners title.
In 2005 Makybe Diva broke all records by claiming her third win at the Melbourne Cup. Becoming the first of the Melbourne Cup winners to achieve this feat.
