People’s Cup visits Lexus Melbourne Cup contenders in Ireland

The Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy has continued its global journey visiting Galway, Naas and County Tipperary in Ireland this week as part of the 22nd annual tour.

As part of the international journey, the $AUD750,000 18-carat-gold trophy visited two-time Lexus Melbourne Cup winning trainer Jospeh O’Brien, legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins and attended the sixth day of the Galway Races Summer Festival.

Galway Racing Chairman Anthony Ryan said the club was delighted to share the magic of the Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy with racegoers.

"There are a lot of similarities between the Melbourne Cup and the Galway Festival because they’re both racing festivals for everybody,” Mr Ryan said.

“It’s a real honour for us to have the Melbourne Cup here, it’s such an iconic trophy.”

The People’s Cup then ventured to the heart of thoroughbred country to celebrate Ireland’s success in the Lexus Melbourne Cup at a special event hosted at the Horse and Jockey Hotel. More than 60 people attended the event hosted by Racing TV’s Jane Mangan with guests including champion Irish jockey Seamie Heffernan.

"It’s genuinely very cool to have it here because we are a small island and yes, we do win the Melbourne Cup, we have won it four times but the world is a big place, and you guys could have gone anywhere,” Ms Mangan said.

“For us to be competitive whether it’s in Japan, in America or in Australia, to win the Melbourne Cup it doesn’t get any bigger so I love that we can be proud of what we achieve over there and I love that when we go to Australia we are respected as a nation because our horses can be so competitive." - Jane Mangan

“I think as a nation we can be very proud of what we achieve not only at home but abroad.”

The tour then attended the richest race day hosted at Naas Racecourse, Ballyhane Stakes Day, where the Australian Ambassador to Ireland The Honourable Gary Gray AO unveiled a special plaque in honour of the Victoria Racing Club’s inaugural secretary Robert Cooper Bagot, who originated from nearby Country Kildare.

Naas Races Chairman Dermot Cantillon said the community was delighted to host the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.

“It’s iconic and it’s amazing to have it here, I am so proud as chairman of the racecourse to have it here,” Mr Cantollin said.

The Lexus Melbourne Cup visited two-time Cup winning trainer Joseph O’Brien who reflected on his 2017 victory with Rekindling and 2020 win with Twilight Payment.

“The Melbourne Cup goes without saying is one of the most prestigious races in the world to win and to compete in.” - Joseph O’Brien

“It’s special to just compete in those races, to have a runner in the Cup is such a special thing let alone to win the race. Going forward we hope that we can be back there in the coming years.

“There’s a very special painting of Twilight Payment and Rekindling that was a very kind gift to me from my parents. It is a painting of the two horses that both won the Cup obviously and it’s very special and has pride of place in our owner’s lounge.”

To conclude the epic tour of England and Ireland, the coveted trophy visited Irish Lexus Melbourne Cup contenders Vauban and Absurde at champion trainer Willie Mullins’ property.

He said he would again aim to send both to this year’s “race that stops a nation” ™.

“It's probably as big a race as we can win, except maybe the Ascot Gold Cup, you know, that we have staying types that can compete at that level,” Mr Mullins said.

“I'd probably bring Vauban out a bit later, I'd probably race him more at home this year and then get him out there later." - Willie Mullins

“Maybe we get Absurde out a bit earlier and run the Caulfield Cup, I think that would suit him and then he can come back for the Melbourne Cup."

The Cup will soon make its way home to Australia to visit Perth, Esperance and Wyalkatchem in Western Australia.

This year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour will see the iconic trophy travel to 39 destinations, with the final route spanning six countries including Australia, Japan, USA, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Ireland.

Since its inaugural journey in 2003, the tour has travelled over one million kilometres, visiting more than 640 destinations to unite communities and provide a once-in-life-time opportunity to get up close and experience the magic of the People’s Cup. This includes visiting 482 schools, 401 hospitals and aged care facilities, participating in over 2100 community events and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local fundraising initiatives.

For further information about the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour please visit MelbourneCupTour.com.au.