Racing: Winning ride the last for Diva

Tony Santic says if he never owns another winner he won't be disappointed.

Which is why when trainer Lee Freedman leaned over and whispered something in the ear of the millionaire tuna boat fisherman and owner of Makybe Diva before yesterday's Melbourne Cup presentation, Santic nodded.

The decision to retire the best horse in Australia and, in the eyes of some good judges, probably in the world, had taken all of 12 seconds.

Before Makybe Diva and a fizzing Glen Boss walked off the hallowed Flemington turf, Santic said he would leave the decision on retirement of the great mare to Freedman.

Someone asked Santic if there was anything that could stop Makybe Diva and he said: "Retirement."

Santic would have been happy to continue racing Makybe Diva in the autumn, possibly at the Dubai Cup meeting, but said Freedman had the total say.

Then Freedman whispered to his South Australian friend. "Look, Tony, this is the perfect moment to retire the mare."

"I agree," Santic replied and the greatest racing career possibly since Phar Lap was over.

"Look, the downside of this race was big, and it was only going to get bigger," said Freedman. "The retirement was spontaneous, and it was not about the dollar."