How did the $600,000 18-carat-gold Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy land in Maldon at the Sandy Creek Clydesdales last Wednesday?
Since its inaugural journey in 2003, the Melbourne Cup trophy tour has travelled more than 900,000 kilometres and visited more than 590 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations. The final route of the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour spanned seven countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Hong Kong and Japan.
And local communities like… Sandy Creek.
“Earlier in the year… it was around 2am… I was scrolling through Facebook… as you do… and read about applications being invited for destinations to play host to the Cup,” said Jaimie Thompson from Sandy Creek Clydesdales. “I suddenly thought to myself, ‘Enter?’ Oh, why not? So, I did.”
At 9.20am last Wednesday, people gathered to see the Sandy Creek Clydesdales pull a 105 year-old wagon carrying the Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy, complete with security guard. The morning tea fund-raising event was a huge success. The Cup trophy (with security guard) then headed to its next destination – to the Bendigo Cup.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 3 November 2023.
