Top 5 in terms of sentiment, but there were greater winners. My Ten: Carbine, Phar Lap, Rain Lover's first, Makybe Diva, Might and Power, Verry Elleegant, Media Puzzle, Galilee, and Vintage Crop.
I'm calling BS, Kiwi was grazing the paddock on the back straight, admiring the daisy's and takes them all on the front straight by two lengths ! Just watched it real carefully again, and Kiwi ran though the field on the inside then ran almost sideways to the outside, covering extra distance too, mind blown !!
I remember watching the Kiwi race with workmates. We had several NZers there and were giving them heaps throughout most of the race. Oh boy didn't they get their revenge.
That was the difference between Makybe Diva and other Champions like Winx and Black Caviar, they were Champions but they were never heroes....and that is what is missing in racing today......and it is the same with Pacing and square gaiters, WFA and set weight racing, mobile starts etc will never create Heroes......most people go to the races for the party, not the races, by mid afternoon they're all drunk, Champions do not get the public emotional, Only heroes do that and Heroes have to do things that are considered impossible, like weight setting records Go read about Caduceus winning the 1960 Inter Dominion at Harold Park off 36 yards behind before a crowd in excess of 50,000 people, none of today's champions elicit that kind of emotion.....and that is not detracting from their ability The Diva was extra special, she broke Light Fingers Weight carrying record in her second Cup win, then broke her own weight carrying record in her 3rd win, she never dodged a hard fight, Winx and Black Caviar were unbelievable Champions but were always treated like Koala bears, they ran in races that they knew they would win
Even though it was 79 years or so before I was born and so , as such obviously (like a vast multitude of others in the same boat) I never saw the race live or the horse ever race live (won't find many today who did... hur , hur , hur 🤔😵💫🥴👻) but Carbine's tonking of 38 others on a track no better than an un-mowed bumpy cow paddock (Flemington Racecourse grass was kept down by a mob of sheep as Lawnmowers weren't around back then (1890) - the type like the councils use to do parks and the like that is today , no bowling greens back then , no sir-ee , you bet your sweet bippy). Carbine with 10st,5lb (65.77kg) beat Highborn (2nd) - 6st,8lb (41.73kg) by 2 & 1/2 Lengths & Correze (3rd) - 7st,3lb (45.81 kg) a further length back in race record time (3.28.25) , Carbine was conceding 3st,10.99lb (24.04kg) to Highborn and 3st,2lb (19.96kg) to Correze. Previous race record was set by Dunlop in 1887 (3.28.50) carrying 8st,3lb (52.16kg). Prior to 1900 , only 6 horses broke 3.30 for the 2 miles (Sheet Anchor 1885 - 3.29.50) , (Dunlop 1887 - 3.28.50) , (Carbine 1890 - 3.28.25) , (Malvolio 1891 - 3.29.25 ) , (Auraria 1895 - 3.29.00) , (Newhaven 1896 - 3.28.50) & (The Grafter 1898 - 3.29.75). The Grafter carrying the next highest weight (9st , 2lb - 58.05kg) behind Carbine's 10st , 5lb. Newhaven in 1896 created a weight carrying record for a 3YO (7st,13lb - 50.34kg) over 2 miles and brained his opposition by 6 lengths. Something for the modern Race fan / watcher to take into account is also the Jockey's from the 19th Century into the early 20th mostly rode with long irons and upright in the saddle , not crouched and using shorter irons. For 1 I did see , briefly , as an attendee , roughly standing parallel to the 300m point above on the lawn , never being the tallest chap , I momentarily , while standing on tippy toes , saw that same Kiwi mentioned below back in 1983 and I agree after seeing a replay later , it was a freakishly unbelievable run.
I was with you Ollie on your first 🏆with Doriemus and the best 🏆with Jason & Media Puzzle 👌🏼 !!! You are a Sandgroper Legend and an Australian Icon cemented in our hearts forever , Thank You 🙏 !!! 🔥❤️🔥🔥😎👌🏼
The day before the Melb Cup that year, I dreamt the winner was a horse, that had the word 'think' in it's name. I was at the Cup that year, and discovered there was a horse running, with that word in it's name ...So You Think. Convinced he was going to win, I put $50 on him for a win. From where we were on the trackside, as the field bolted past, he was leading, and I knew he was going to win. But then somehow he didn't! 🤯 But he did go on to become my favourite racehorse. 💖
I’ve been to 24 Cups, including this historic hat trick of this legendary mare. One of my favourite memories of this was that wonderful post-race interview quote by Lee Freedman that began with “go and find the smallest child here…”. Hoping I’ll still be round in 30 years+, I’d love for him to be proven right.
She is the greatest stayer we will ever see but also you can't compare her to others but from 1400-3200m , she got in well with 58kgs for her third Cup, prob should have had atleast 60kgs but still would have won. We have been so privileged to see the greatest mares in Sunline, The Diva, BC, Winx i still can't believe she paid $3.30 in her 3rd Cup. Lol that was stealing money, but 3 of the best rides in the Cup ever has to go to Bossy, he slaughtered Champagne yrs earlier he went to early but turning this girl from a handicap staying mare to a great WFA horse is not easy snd for Freedman to say shes the best he's trained snd seen, he was never one to talk it up, his quote " get the youngest child here today because we sill never see anything like her again, then came along a pretty decent horse called WINX LOL.
A more fair dinkum list starts with Tulloch then Rising Fast back to back. Tobin Bronze is a clear next pick then Sobar in 72 and you can throw in Leilani in 74
Gods Own prob the best win after getting knocked over 2 times then as Boss said running down Paratroopers who was no easy beat. But Redoutes digs lunges and wins best match race and they had some great bouts during their racing careers but Redoutes changed Aust breeding in away no other horse has done at stud. His sons his daughters their sons and their daughters that Danehill blood line still holds up.
