One of the most recognised trophies in world sport climbed arguably Australia’s most iconic landmark, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, today (Tuesday) as part of the 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour.
David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Mark Beretta and Natalie Barr from Channel 7’s Sunrise escorted the 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy, valued at $175,000, to the summit 134 metres above sea level.
The adventure was part of the 34 destination Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour of Australia and New Zealand before November’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A helicopter circling the Sydney Harbour pulled a banner reminding fans to connect with the Carnival using #MelbCupCarnival on social media.
Since 2003, the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour has provided rural, regional and metropolitan communities across Australia and New Zealand a chance to experience the magic of the iconic trophy.
Over the past 11 years, the 18 carat gold Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy has travelled more than 345,000 kilometres, visiting 270 towns and cities and engaging tens of thousands of people.
The three-handled cup, which even travels on its own passport when jetting abroad, has a celebrity-like schedule of media and event appearances this week before flying to Queensland next Tuesday.
The 154th running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November offers $6.2 million in prize money.
The race that stops a nation, the world’s richest handicap, now attracts an international television audience of 700 million in 163 territories.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival features eight Group 1 races and generates a gross economic benefit of approximately $700 million to the Australian economy annually.
Last year more than 330,000 racegoers attended over the four-day Carnival at Flemington, including more than 50,000 from New South Wales.
The 2014 Melbourne Cup Carnival runs from 1-8 November.
