Hold onto your hats, racing fans! The 2022 Melbourne Cup trophy has just fetched a jaw-dropping $800,000 at a fabulous shindig in Sydney. Who knew one little (well, not so little) trophy could cause such a stir?
After Gold Trip’s dazzling victory in November’s heart-stopping race, the prized Cup took a victory lap with all of its proud owners from the Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace-trained stable. The fun didn’t stop there! The glitzy trophy then found itself the star of the show at a swanky luncheon attended by the dynamic co-training duo, Mark Zahra, and a smattering of lucky owners.
The trophy, worth around $350,000, had guests on the edge of their seats as it went under the hammer. Expert auctioneer Clint Donovan from Donovan & Co had the room buzzing as the bidding climbed to an eye-popping $800,000. In the end, part-owner and current VRC board member Neil Werrett claimed victory, taking the coveted Cup home.
Werrett’s winning streak doesn’t stop at the Melbourne Cup, though. He’s also had a share in the unbeaten super mare Black Caviar and has seen his ownership interests soar with other Group 1 winners such as Zaaki, Tofane, Sir Dragonet, and Masked Crusader.