Robert Keain, horse breeder of Port Pirie, called into the art gallery to see the 1888 Melbourne Cup. I would struggle lifting this one up, he said.
Horse racing fans have lined up at the art gallery to see the 1888 Melbourne Cup.
The Centennial Cup marked the 100th anniversary of British settlement in Australia and is for the most valuable handicap in the world.
It features three horses cast in silver weighing 800 grams surmounted on a big silver plate base.
It is engraved: “Won by D.S. Wallace’s BC Mentor, ridden by Michael O’Brien, trained by W.S. Hickenbotham.”
Robert Keain, a horse breeder, of Port Pirie,
visited the gallery to see the cup.
“I do bet on my horses and I have been passionate about horses my whole life. I have 50 of them,” he said.
“There are three horses in the cup and I coincidently have three horses racing at the moment. They have not won a cup yet but if they did, I would struggle lifting this one up.”
Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery director Kirstie Jamieson said the cup had been lent by the National Gallery of Australia.
“The 1888 Melbourne Cup is part of the Elaine and Jim Wolfensohn gift,” she said.
“The gift comprises three art-filled suitcases and the cup, which tours to schools, regional galleries, libraries, community centres and nursing homes. And we were lucky to have it on display here.” The cup will be shown until June 24.