Gold Coast in Queensland are $50,000 richer after French bred six-year-old Gold Trip stormed home to win the 162nd Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, 1st of November.

Gold Coast Turf Club and Women In Racing combined forces as the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour destination for Gold Coast and drew barrier 14 to be allocated the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained stayer Gold Trip.

The Cup visited Gold Coast on tour in September where the iconic trophy attended a special Women in Racing Luncheon and attended the 15th annual Pink Ribbon Cup Race Day which raised vital funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Despite initial scepticism after drawing the top weight horse, both communities’ hopes were soon boosted when they saw Gold Trip cross the finish line and become the first horse to win the Lexus Melbourne Cup at top weight since the legendary Makybe Diva in 2005.

Gold Coast Turf Club Chief Executive Officer Steve Lines said both organisations were over the moon with the result.

“We were all so excited when Gold Trip crossed the line first and we realised we had won! Everyone in the community is just so thrilled and we felt very lucky to host the Cup on tour when it visited in September,” Mr Lines said.

“The $50,000 will be split between the Griffith University Institute for Glycomics, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to produce ground-breaking research and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, a charity which aims to fund world class breast cancer research.”

Mr Rosich congratulated the community of Gold Coast as the winning Lexus Melbourne Cup National Sweep destination.

“The VRC is proud to present the community of Gold Coast with $50,000 which will be split between their two nominated charities – The Griffith University Institute for Glycomics and the National Breast Cancer Foundation,” Mr Rosich said.

The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep was introduced by the VRC in 2019 as part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour and sees 24 rural and regional Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour destinations across Australia allocated a starting gate for ‘the race that stops a nation’™, the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup.

The town which draws the barrier of the Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning horse receives $50,000 to put towards a charity supporting a local community initiative.