It takes many hours – and decades of experience – to produce the most sought after trophy in greyhound racing.
As well as a winner’s cheque for $420,000 – the biggest prize in greyhound racing – connections of the TAB Melbourne Cup winning greyhound will also receive a magnificent handcrafted gold cup.
The modern TAB Melbourne Cup was designed by John Hawke and was first presented in 2012. John and his team at Renown Silverware are responsible for crafting some of the most prestigious trophies in racing, including thoroughbred racing’s Cox Plate, and harness racing’s Interdominion.
“We’re very proud of the Melbourne Cup trophy,” said Hawke, who boasts several decades experience in the trophy business as well as a lifelong passion for all codes of racing.
“The staff here look forward to making it every year and it’s a thrill to see the Cup presented to the winners on the night.”
The Cup is comprised of three distinct pieces – the bowl, the stem and the handles – and a then affixed to the wooden base.
The bowl begins as a single piece of brass which is spun to its signature shape.
A solid piece of brass is lathed to create the stem.
The distinctive greyhound handles are laser cut, each handle comprising two 3mm greyhounds which are then welded together.
Once each piece is completed it is cleaned and polished.
The pieces are silver soldered together, plated in sterling silver and engraved.
The Cup is polished again before being gold plated and readied for delivery.
The completed Cup, ready for presentation to the connections of the 2016 TAB Melbourne Cup.
It takes several weeks and the skill of an expert silversmith, engraver, polisher and plater to produce the TAB Melbourne Cup – a masterpiece befitting the world’s richest and most prestigious greyhound race.
See the Cup be presented to the connections of the winning greyhound, get to Sandown Park on Friday 18 November!
For more on Renown Silverware, visit www.renownsilverware.com.au.
Click here for the full gallery. Photos courtesy of Clint Anderson, BlueStream Pictures.
