The three handled “Loving Cup”, designed by James Steeth in time for the 1919 race won by Artilleryman and still in use today, is one of the world’s most identifiable sporting trophies.
Lawson-Menzies will offer the cup (Lot 101) for auction as part of its newly introduced quarterly fine interiors sale in its Sydney gallery at 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington.
The 1960 Melbourne Cup field included Tulloch – a turf icon widely regarded as one of the three finest horses in Australian racing history. In his lead-up to the Cup, Tulloch had won three important races, and started 3-1 favourite. However, horse racing rarely follows the intended script and Tulloch finished an unlucky seventh (the only unplaced run of his distinguished career) behind the previously unheralded New Zealand mare and 50-1 outsider, Hi Jinx.
In November 2007, Bonhams & Goodman sold the last Melbourne Cup offered at auction for $168,000 (IBP) being the 1892 Melbourne Cup, won by "Glenloth". However the design was much more elaborate than the "Loving Cup" design introduced in 1919, featuring a cast figure of winged Victory holding a laurel wreath in each hand, on a shaped oval silver plated plinth on which were mounted three cast figures of racehorses with jockeys, flanking and facing the cup