David: 0412 448 883 • Myee: 0413 305 578 Julie: 0421 574 093
SPORT
HARPO’ s MARKS
Just about every member of my Hawkesbury Rovers social golf club is mad about the horses not so much sitting in the saddle but having a punt on them.
So, it was no surprise that our first post-game chat recently turned to the great Makybe Diva, who sadly passed away the week before.
Most of the blokes and I say that affectionately reckoned she was the greatest horse ever to grace an Australian racetrack, purely off the back of her three straight wins in the Melbourne Cup.
Now, I’ ll give them this she was a champion. Her record stacks up: 36 starts for 15 wins and another seven placings. That’ s elite by any measure.
But I had the lot of them up in arms when I suggested her third Cup win in 2005 was, quite frankly, a bit of a rort. Hear me out. She carried just 58kg in that race, her swansong. In her first win back in 2003, she carried 51kg, which was fair enough based on her form at the time, including a couple of solid but unplaced runs in weight-for-age company.
Remember, Melbourne Cup handicaps are set around September 20 each year.
In 2004, after already winning a Cup, placing in three top-class WFA races and winning the Sydney Cup( also under 55.5kg), she was given just 55.5kg. Generous, to say the least. Then came 2005.
She’ d resumed in the autumn and knocked off the Australian Cup and The BMW both stacked fields. She went to Japan, held her own mid-pack in two WFA races, then returned home. First-up in August she wins the Memsie, then runs second in the Feehan. And what does she get for the Cup? Just 58kg. So, let’ s tally it up two Melbourne Cups, a Sydney Cup, an Australian Cup, plus top-level placings … and only a seven-kilo rise from her first win. Rort, I tell ya! Somehow and only a few cold ones can explain this, the conversation then veered off into famous horses from American Western TV shows.
Up came Trigger( Roy Rogers), Silver( The Lone Ranger), Topper( Hopalong Cassidy), Diablo( Cisco Kid) and Champion( Gene Autry).
From there, we were off and running, reminiscing about the avalanche of Westerns that filled our screens through the’ 60s and’ 70s— back when it seemed every second show involved cowboys and shootouts.
The usual suspects got a run: The Roy Rogers Show, Rawhide, Gunsmoke, Bat Masterson, Cheyenne, Maverick, Bonanza, The Cisco Kid, Zorro, Wagon Train, F Troop the list went on.
Then, after a bit more thinking( and a few more beers), came Have Gun Will
Barrier with RiseTONY BRASSEL
Travel, Wyatt Earp, The Rifleman, The High Chaparral and Wanted Dead or Alive Steve McQueen’ s breakout role.
At some point, we even attempted a few theme songs. Most didn’ t get past the first line until someone launched into Rawhide, and suddenly we were all belting out:
“ Keep them doggies movin’, though they’ re disapprovin’, Rawhide …” Not pretty— but enthusiastic. Thanks for the column, fellas.
SAD MARKS: The passing of Makybe Diva. Champion mare— and yes, she probably still wins that third Cup carrying more weight.
HIGH MARKS: Alex Johnston surpassing Ken Irvine’ s try-scoring record. Mind you, Kenny would’ ve bagged another hundred if today’ s corner rules and attacking styles were around in his day.
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MISS ROUMBINI had“ be on be next time” with an impressive trial win over 1050m at Randwick on March 16. Ran smart time without being pressured but all her rivals were off the bit.
ROSLYN’ S STAR could not have been more impressive in winning 1050m trial against a handful of very smart types at Randwick on March 16.
SIR LES is an unraced 3YO gelding out of the Craig Carmody yard. Scored second trial win in impressive style over 1050m at Randwick on March 16. Well named, he’ s by All Too Hard out of Everage!
SPIRIT OF WEALTH is primed to return and continue her great form going on very impressive 740m trial win at Randwick on March 16 when beating a hot field.
CLOUDLAND showed vast improvement last campaign and should be further improved this campaign going on the veteran’ s impressive 1000m trial win at Newcastle on March 17. Showed pace and very strong without being let loose.
OXFORD POWER is an unraced 2YO by Yes Yes Yes out of the Kim Waugh yard. Scored second trial win over 1000m at Newcastle on March 17. Ready to strike on debut.
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David: 0412 448 883 • Myee: 0413 305 578 Julie: 0421 574 093
32 ISSUE 191 // APRIL 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT