Famous broodmare Tugela, the dam of triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, has died after giving birth to her eleventh foal.

The Kentucky-bred Tugela died on Friday after producing a filly foal by All Too Hard.

Tugela was imported to Australia after she was purchased by bloodstock agent John Foote for 60,000 guineas at a Tattersall's sale in England in 1998 on behalf for South Australian tuna fisherman Tony Santic,

Tugela was carrying her first foal, by Desert King, at the time of her sale. She foaled a filly in the UK before dam and daughter were shipped to Australia in 2000.

The filly was named Makybe Diva and raced for Santic and a syndicate of his Port Lincoln based employees.

Makybe Diva went on to win more than $14.5 million prizemoney during a history making racing career that saw her become the only horse to win three Melbourne Cups. Her other G1 wins included the WS Cox Plate, Australian Cup and BMW.

Tugela other foals include the black type winners Valkyrie Diva, Musket and La Amistad, a three-quarter sister to Makybe Diva who is in the running for a start in this year's Melbourne Cup.

Tugela resided at Makybe, the Victorian stud farm established by Santic.

"Rest in peace our beautiful mare," Makybe Racing and Breeding posted on Twitter.

"You will be missed and in our hearts forever. Thank you for the lifetime memories. Love team MAKYBE. Xxx."