Makybe Diva foals Written Tycoon filly

Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva has become a mother again on the eve of the Group One race at Flemington named in her honour.

Makybe Diva, now 20 years old, gave birth to a filly by Written Tycoon in the early hours of Friday.

The filly is the ninth foal produced by Makybe Diva, the champion mare who etched her name into Australian racing history most notably for her feats in the country’s most famous race – the Melbourne Cup.

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Makybe Diva is the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup three times, achieving the feat between 2003-2005.

One of her progeny, lightly raced six-year-old gelding Surrey, has been nominated for this year’s Melbourne Cup.

The Craiglee Stakes at Flemington – the venue of the Melbourne Cup – was renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes in her honour in 2007 and in 2013 the weight-for-age race was upgraded from Group Two to Group One.

Last year’s winner of the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), Humidor, is the slight favourite to defend his title ahead of Kementari.