Cameron Bain accepts the 2024 Melbourne Cup, which will be on display at Warramunda Village later this month.
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Supplied
It’s 2.7 kilograms, 18-carat gold, worth $1 million — and it’s heading to Kyabram.
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On Wednesday, October 28, Warramunda Village will showcase the 2024 Melbourne Cup trophy at its open day, offering locals a rare chance to see a piece of Australian sporting history up close.
The cup, won by $91-shot Knight’s Choice, comes to Kyabram through owner Cameron Bain and his father, Rod Bain, who have a local connection to the village.
Rod is an extended family member of Warramunda community care director Leah Konings, who explained the timing of the visit couldn’t be better.
“Knight’s Choice is currently 22nd on the order of entry for the cup, and with a little luck, he will be running again this year ― just a week after the cup visit to Kyabram. After this, he will have a lot more supporters in Kyabram,” she said.
The trophy will take pride of place in the dining room and newly redeveloped entrance of the residential aged care facility, where residents, staff and visitors can take photos alongside it and hear stories about the historic win from Rod.
Rod Bain, whose son Cameron Bain is the owner of the 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice, will bring the $1 million Melbourne Cup to Kyabram’s Warramunda Village.
Photo by
Alexander Dabb
Rod, who will bring the cup to Kyabram on behalf of his son, said the story of Knight’s Choice had all the underdog elements that Australians loved.
“He cost just $85,000 and is [one of] the cheapest horse[s] ever to be sold at the Magic Millions sales to go on to win a Group One,” he said.
Ridden to victory by the former The Voice contestant Robbie Dolan, Knight’s Choice was trained by Seymour-based John Symons and Sheila Laxon — the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup in 2001 with Ethereal.
Mr Bain said his son loved sharing the trophy with the community, and it had probably visited more locations around Australia than any other cup in history.
The trophy’s appearance anchors the “Australiana” theme of the Open Day celebration at Warramunda Village.
Festivities include a live Triple M Goulburn Valley broadcast from 10am, a 2pm concert by Golden Guitar winner and country music icon Reg Poole, guided facility tours and the launch of The Village Cook Book.
Lois Higgs, a former resident of the village and mother of Kyabram cricket royalty in Jim Higgs, will also be honoured with the launch of an art installation in the Rockman wing.
The open day will be the first opportunity many people will have had to see the re-development, which includes a brand new entrance, 10 new bedrooms, a new hair salon, allied health room and other enhancements.
For more information about the open day, contact Jason White or Colleen Sutton on 5852 2611.
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