Melbourne Cup’s NZ tour opens in Matamata

The Lexus Melbourne Cup tour ventured to Matamata yesterday to celebrate the link between the horse-mad township and the race that stops a nation.

The $200,000, 18-carat gold Melbourne Cup trophy began its New Zealand journey at the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata before visiting nearby thoroughbred nurseries Valachi Downs, Rich Hill Stud and Waikato Stud.

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer and Matamata native Mike Moroney joined former Racing Victoria chief steward Des Gleeson as the ambassadors for the tour, which also took in yesterday’s Matamata races, with 2019 marking the Matamata Racing Club’s centennial.

‘‘As a significant thoroughbred racing and breeding region, Matamata is intrinsically linked to the Melbourne Cup,’’ Matamata Racing Club chairman Dennis Ryan said. ‘‘It’s especially pleasing for that to be recognised in the club’s centenary year.’’

Racegoers were able to get close to the prized trophy and trans-tasman trainer Moroney is hoping to add the 2019 version to the Melbourne Cup he won at the turn of the century with his grand stayer Brew.

Moroney’s 2019 Melbourne Cup aspirations were dealt a blow when Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) runner-up Vengeur Masque injured himself in a paddock just before he was due to come back in to work, but he has an able backup in imported galloper Sound.

‘‘His (Sound) run in the Sydney Cup was very good when eighth and his run in the BMW (Gr.1, 2400m), we had to rush him to get him there.’’