TODAY'S Melbourne Cup holds special meaning for Cleveland-based real estate agent Stephen Sheppard.
Stephen, who lives in Thornlands with wife Sarah and son Lincoln, is one of a handful of people who can claim to have held the prestigious cup six years in a row.
Unlike cup King Bart Cummings, however, who hoped to win the race that stops the nation for the 13th time today, Stephen is not a horse owner or trainer or a jockey.
As an expert engraver, Stephen's job was to etch each Melbourne Cup since 2006.
Before he switched jobs and started work at LJ Hooker in Cleveland this year, he worked for Hardy Brothers Jewellers.
Hardy Brothers' Newstead workshop was where the 33-year-old spent some “stressful” time each year carefully etching the 1.75kg, 18 carat gold cup.
And this year's cup was no exception.
When the winner of today's race lifts the cup above their head in victory it will be Stephen’s delicate etching that people at Flemington will see.
The former jewellery craftsman said the cup was definitely worth its weight in gold.
“The cup was redesigned slightly to mark the 150th anniversary of the race and this year's is a little heavier that previously,” he said.
“With the price of gold skyrocketing, its value has also gone up too.
“The Melbourne Cup is unique because every year there is a new cup that the winner gets to take home.
“It is very stressful holding the cup, which weighs about 1.8kg and is probably valued at more than $125,000.
“So you don't want to make a mistake,” he said.
Etching the cup involves using a small hand chisel to carefully scrape away the gold.
Stephen, who also etched next year's cup, said he also had to etch the Emirates’ logo on the cup along with the words “Emirates, Melbourne Cup 2011”.
Although etching the cup was stressful, he said there was always a “eureka” moment at the end of each race.
“There are very few people who have held the Melbourne Cup and even though I am not a betting man, I do always stop and watch the race every year,” he said.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment