Makybe Diva wins $3.2 million Melbourne Cup

Makybe Diva, a 5-year-old mare trained by David Hall, won the 143rd running of the $3.2 million Melbourne Cup Handicap on Tuesday before a record crowd of 122,736 at Flemington Racecourse.

Ridden by Greg Boss, the 7-1 shot rallied in traffic to lead approaching the furlong marker to defeat another 5-year-old mare, She's Archie, by 1-1/4 lengths with the Alan Jarvis-trained British invader and highweight Jardines Lookout three lengths further back in third. The time for the two miles on good ground was 3:19.90.

A British-bred daughter of Desert King out of the Riverman mare Tugela, Makybe Diva had been winless in six starts since having scored her sixth consecutive victory in the 1 9/16-mile Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington last Nov. 9. Most recently she had been a length fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Caulfield Cup behind Mummify, who was scratched from the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday morning due to a fever.

Godolphin's seasonlong woes continued when Millstreet came home 21st of 23. Even worse, their Grosser Preis von Baden winner Mamool, sent off as the 11-2 favorite, was eased in the stretch by jockey Frankie Dettori and returned lame.