Three NZ venues on Melbourne Cup tour
Three centres in New Zealand, Christchurch, Stratford and Auckland will host the Melbourne Cup in early August.
They will show the iconic 18-carat gold, $200,000 Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy on a tour of 31 cities and towns across Australia and New Zealand.
Christchurch, selected for its passion for racing and community spirit, was revealed as a destination at a special event yesterday at 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams’ training facilities at Mount Macedon, Victoria.
Tim Mills, chief executive of Canterbury Jockey Club, said they were thrilled to be part of the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour which would provide the community with the chance to see the Cup.
‘‘New Zealand has strong ties to the Emirates Melbourne Cup with 43 New Zealand-bred horses winning the Cup, including the most famous of them all Phar Lap and the legendary Carbine who was originally trained from stables across the road at Riccarton Park.
‘‘We’re delighted to welcome the Cup to Christchurch the day before our estar Winter Cup, particularly as the 1938 winner Catalogue won that race three years in succession.’’
Racing royalty joined the celebrations, including five-time Melbourne Cup winning owner Williams, 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning horse Alamandin, 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning horse Efficient.
The tour starts on July 1, in West Wyalong in regional NSW, where the gold used by ABC Bullion to make the trophy is mined, before returning to Flemington for ‘The ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ on the first Tuesday in November. The Cup is making its 15th tour and has travelled more than 494,000km and visited 377 destinations.