The 2026 Melbourne Cup trophy has made a special visit to Tasmania, stopping in several parts of the state as part of its nationwide charity tour.
The cup spent four days travelling across the state, from Launceston and Devonport down to Hobart.
Along the way, it made a special stop at a farm just outside Oatlands where one of the only Tasmanian-connected Melbourne Cup winners, The Assyrian, is buried.
The Assyrian won the 1882 Melbourne Cup and the 1883 Hobart Cup.
The horse was purchased on the day it won the cup by Charles Stewart Agnew, whose father Sir James Willson Agnew who served as premier in 1886-87.
Sir James was also president of the Tasmanian Racing Club.
A headstone marks The Assyrian’s resting place in a paddock where rhubarb is now grown to make a gin named in the horse’s honour.
The tour also stopped at Calstock Estate in Deloraine, where 1884 Melbourne Cup winner Malua was bred.
The property was owned by the Field family for 130 years and is now run as luxury accommodation by Steve and Heather Cavalier.
Greg Miles, a Melbourne Cup tour ambassador who called 36 Melbourne Cups between 1981 and 2016, said the visits to historic sites were a highlight.
“You don’t get the opportunity too often to visit the site of these old horses and you’re talking about the very, very early history of the Melbourne Cup, winning it way back in 1882,” Miles told Pulse.
“It’s a bit touching to come and see a bit of that history and brings it to life a bit, doesn’t it?”
Miles said the tour began around 24 years ago after Wendy Green, the owner of 1999 Melbourne Cup winner Rogan Josh drove the trophy from Melbourne to Darwin in a small car, stopping at pubs along the way.
“You take it on tour and show it to people and they can’t believe it’s the real thing,” Miles said.
“It’s a million dollars worth of gold trophy right there.”
Southern Midlands Council mayor Edwin Batt said the Oatlands visit was a boost for the region.
“A wonderful fillip really for Oatlands to be recognised as a destination for these types of promotions,” he said.
The Southern Midlands Council was presented with a gold replica of the Melbourne Cup as a thank you.
The tour carries a charity element, with the Cancer Council selected as Tasmania’s beneficiary through a barrier draw that could deliver up to $50,000.
The cup has already travelled to New York and Japan this year and is set to head to England and France in July.
