“A champion becomes a legend.” Five words etched into Australian racing folklore - Greg Miles’ famed call describing Makybe Diva’s third Melbourne Cup victory.“
After a year earlier becoming just the fifth horse to win two editions of the world’s richest staying race, Makybe Diva headed back to Flemington on November 1, 2005, for a crack at uncharted territory in the world-famous two-miler.
At that stage she had under her belt the first of her two Australian Horse of the Year titles and another four G1 victories, in addition to her Melbourne Cup double. While in previous years she had arrived at Flemington via the 2400-metre Caulfield Cup, this time she took a different route - winning the country's premier weight-for-age contest, the W.S Cox Plate, over just 2040m (a mile and a quarter).
That too was a memorable contest, Makybe Diva part of the amazing - a line of eight horses (from a field of 14) making their runs together, spread across the track approaching the turn at Moonee Valley. But she had them in couple of strides, and those present doubted they’d see anything better that spring.
‘I was there’ moment
Just ten days later, though, all at Flemington experienced one of those “I was there” moments that come along just two or three times in a lifetime.
Buried back in the field, Makybe Diva looked to have a job ahead as the 24-strong field made their way to the corner. But jockey Glen Boss was not panicking, keeping her balanced until the runs came - and when they did, well she was off and away.
“Here's Makybe Diva. The nation roars for a hero,” announced Miles.
One of the many roars (“we were having a barbeque and cheering like crazy”) came from a stud farm on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, where a dashing bay stallion was serving his first Southern Hemisphere book in three years. Previously a shuttler between Coolmore’s Irish and Hunter Valley bases, he had also spent time in Japan.
Lynden Park Stud’s Julie Nairn and Jill Ross could not have been prouder on that famed first Tuesday in November, able to watch the race and then head out to a paddock and give that horse a bit of scratch, an extra carrot.
The sire of a legend, Makybe Diva’s dad, Desert King, who for the last few years has called Lauriston Park, Creightons Creek, in north-eastern Victoria his home. Who earlier this month, at the age of 27, laid down for a gentle sleep from which he did not wake.
Julie Nairn still remembers the day she first laid eyes on the imposing son of Danehill. “We were so impressed with him,” she recalled. “He had the most wonderful temperament, and boy what an action; he just filled your eye with his presence.”
“He was a beautiful stallion and a gentleman in all respects; it was a privilege to have played a part in his stud career," Nairn added, sentiments echoed by Christoph Bruechert, who also briefly stood Desert King, at Bombora Downs in Victoria.
“He is fondly remembered by all at Bombora Downs as an equine gentleman, a really nice horse to work with.”
Five months before Makybe Diva’s third Cup, Lachlan River had become Desert King’s 20th stakes winner when outstaying his rivals in the G1 Queensland Derby. And, a month before, Desert War had won his second G1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick.
Normally a horse of Desert War’s quality, with his six victories at the elite level, would be considered a stallion’s star representative. He had to play second fiddle in the Desert King story but what a grand horse he was, one of star trainer Gai Waterhouse’s favourites ... “he beat the best horses in the land, breaking their hearts in doing so,” she said.
“One of our stables at Randwick bears his name, so he will be forever immortalized as part of our legacy and team.”
A truly international stallion, Desert King sired 661 winners in 29 countries. His progeny amassed in excess of A$70 million, with his 27 stakes winners, including the G1 gallopers Makybe Diva, Desert War, Lachlan River, Mr Dinos, Darsalam and Chelsea Rose.
Start of the Aidan O’Brien era
Thanks to his star progeny, his place in history is assured, but there is even more to the Desert King story, that of his racing career ... which saw him, on September 21, 1996, at the Curragh, become the first G1 winner for one of the most successful trainers in history.
Having just his fourth start for the young Irishman Aidan O'Brien, Desert King took on and defeated Ireland’s best juveniles in the G1 National Stakes. The start of an era.
Eight months later at the same track, he took the G3 Tetrarch Stakes, and a few weeks after that Desert King added to his resume the G1 Irish 2000m Guineas - just 24 hours after Aidan O'Brien had cheered home his first Classic winner, the Irish 1000 Guineas winner Classic Park.
Danehill was starting to make his mark at this time, but he was a sprinter and speed was what was generally expected from his progeny. And so there were questions raised as Desert King made his way to the Irish Derby. Would the testing 12 furlongs be to his liking?
Jockey Christy Roche was not one of the doubters. He had been a Desert King fan from the start. Aidan O'Brien, in an interview with Horse Racing Ireland, remembered an early discussion about the stable's Derby aspirants.
Silencing the Danehill doubters
“When I mentioned Desert King’s name, Christy’s eyes lit up. The Danehills were not staying far at that time, but from his reaction I knew that Christy thought this was the horse. He had so much faith in him.
“It was unusual for us to step a horse straight up from a mile to the mile and a half, but Desert King was a seriously good horse. He was tough, genuine and sound - all those things.
“We threw everything at him because he was our first good horse and he took it all on the chin. He was an amazing horse.”
The Irish Times's Brian O'Connor reported on that Irish Derby, noting that “Desert King silenced the doubters with his thrilling victory, providing further evidence that his trainer Aidan O'Brian possesses a rare talent.
“As the Christy Roche-ridden colt accelerated past the gallant outsider Dr Johnson in the final furlong to win by a length, it was the final confirmation of the passing of the mantle from the old maestro Vincent O'Brien to his young namesake.”
Finishing out of the first two on only two occasions, Desert King was renowned for passing on his toughness, with his progeny always ready for a great battle.
Retired from stud duties three years ago, he spent his days in peaceful retirement at Lauriston, enjoying the company of his buddy, Rock Hero, in the adjacent paddock.
He did have one somewhat dramatic experience at Lauriston, the December 2014 bush fires that tore through Creighton’s Creek, threatening the farm. Fortunately there was no loss of life and Desert King was one of a very calm group of horses whose relaxed response impressed the stud’s Chris Bakker.
“When you walk up to the paddock having to evacuate you are thinking ‘gee I hope you are at the gate waiting for me to come and put your head collar on’, and Desert King was.”
Fire, smoke, helicopters, it was a frightening scene, but each of the Lauriston horses remained calm as they were moved as far from the imminent danger as possible - a blessing for Desert King as the fences lining his paddock fell victim to the flames.
“I thought with the heat, the smoke and the noise that the horses would be spooked,” Bakker said, “but they were so calm - including Desert King, he was a gem of a horse.”
“A lovely horse,” he continued, “completely hassle free.” And one, he added who “touched a lot of people throughout his life and who was part of the beginnings of the Danehill story.
“It was a privilege to give him a nice home in his twilight years.”
Lauriston Park was also home to the champion mare and 1991 Melbourne Cup winner, Let’s Elope, who died in 2016. Desert King has been buried next to her.
*Breeding note: Desert King hailed from an outstanding European family, among his fifth dam, Circassia - also sixth dam of Frankel.