THE Shoalhaven will play host to one of the country’s most prestigious sporting trophies, the Emirates Melbourne Cup, this Friday.
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The $175,000, 18-carat gold cup will be brought to Nowra by the Victoria Racing Club as part of its 13th annual tour.
The “People’s Cup” will travel to 33 towns and cities across Australia, New Zealand, and for the first time, Malaysia, where it will join a special World War II memorial service.
The Shoalhaven visit is part of the NSW leg of the tour and provides the local community the chance to get up close and personal with the famous trophy.
The trophy will be on display between 7am-9.30am at Jelly Bean Park in Egans Lane, Nowra.
From there it will travel to the Osborne Nursing Home and Shoalhaven District Hospital before arriving at Shoalhaven City Council for a luncheon.
The trophy will again make a visit to Terara Public School, which has close ties with the de Mestre family, and is near where master trainer Etienne de Mestre trained many of his five Melbourne Cup winners.
From there the cup will visit Kids Korner Pre-school before appearing at the Shoalhaven Business Awards at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre between 5.30pm-7pm.
Accompanying the cup on the tour is famous race caller Bryan Martin, who called over 25 Melbourne Cups during his career, and Mark de Mestre, Etienne de Mestre’s grandson.
Shoalhaven City Turf Club chief executive officer Lynn Locke said the Shoalhaven had an extensive horse racing and equestrian industry and was proud to be closely aligned with the great event that is the Melbourne Cup.
The cup will also take part in a Trek4Kidz community barbecue at Nowra Bowling Club, as part of an annual weeklong event to raise funds for the Starlight Children’s Foundation on Saturday.
