On November 5 2015, Leesha and i visited W.J.Sanders jewellers in Marrickville. I wanted to have a look in the firms’ archives on sporting trophies to see if i could locate the Moorefield Gold Cup. Sadly, i was not successful .in my search .There were other racing trophies…..
I knew that WJ Sanders was established in 1911. W.Kerr was named as the jeweller associated with the Moorefield Gold Cup; however it is possible that W J Sanders made the Moorefield Gold Cup for W. Kerr.
Leesha and I had the privilege of seeing today the brass copy of the 2015 Melbourne Cup. The jeweller made the brass copy first, before he produced the final product in gold. We also saw the small Cups, which are given to the connections of the horses, which are accepted into the race.
I indicated to the jeweller that i had met, on December 10 2014, the grandson of the jeweller, who made the Cup into a 3 handled Cup. Michael provided this fascinating history.
The Melbourne Cup, which was given to the owners in 1916, may have been a two handled Cup. It was possibly produced by James Steeth, when he worked at William Drummond and Company, Melbourne. In 1917 and 1918, the VRC requested from William Drummond that a gold Cup be made. James Steeth did so. By this time; he had then started his own gold smithing business in Melbourne. The Cup was still 2 handled.
In 1919, Steeth however decided to make a 3 handled Cup. It was an Australian design, which was unique, and was not found anywhere else in the world.
It would take Michael’s father and grandfather 100 to 110 hours to make the Melbourne Cup.
For the 150th anniversary of the running of the Melbourne Cup in 2010, the VRC decided to keep the 1930’s design for all future Melbourne Cups. Michael was invited as a guest of the VRC to honour his family’s involvement in the production of the Melbourne Cup. Anne Field November 5 2015
