Smith & Singer
172

The 1964 Melbourne Cup won by Polo Prince, 9ct gold, James Steeth & Son for William Drummond & Co. Ltd.

(3)

Estimate $70,000 – $90,000

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Alternate Views

modelled as a three handled loving cup supported on a tapering stem terminating in a stepped circular foot, inscribed 'MELBOURNE CUP / 1964 / WON BY / MR & MRS L. DAVIS' / POLO PRINCE / TRAINER J.P. CARTER / RIDER R.W. TAYLOR / TIME 3 MINS. 19.6 SEC' inscribed to base 'Manufactured by Wm Drummond & Co Ltd' 9ct', together with the original turned blackwood base and a black and white photo of Polo Prince after the race with Mr John Carter, Mr Ron Taylor and Mr Sydney McGreal, framed and glazed

(3)
840 gms, 29.9 cm high, 37 cm high (with base); the photograph 19.5 cm by 30 cm

  • Lot Sold $115,000 (Hammer Price)
  • $140,300 (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium)

Provenance

Decorative Arts, Christie's, Melbourne 16th November 1999, lot 712, illustrated
Private Collection Queensland, acquired from the above

Show Catalogue Notes

Catalogue Notes

A crowd of 85,000 braved bleak weather conditions to watch Polo Prince win the 1964 Melbourne Cup; onlookers included Dawn Fraser, who had won gold at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Polo Prince entered the race at odds of 12/1, though in the lead up to Cup eve, punters backed him at over 20/1. It was an outstanding victory, as the gelding won by a length-and-a-quarter and was within a tenth-of-a-second of breaking the race record. Polo Prince became the eighth New Zealand horse in the previous thirteen years to win the Melbourne Cup.

Originally destined to be a hurdler due to his temperament, Polo Prince's trainer, John Carter, saw potential for flat races. Carter, encouraged by the six-year-old's performance during the two mile Auckland Cup in January 1964 decided to prepare Polo Prince for the Melbourne Cup of the same year. Polo Prince's co-owner, Laurie Davis was known as 'Lucky' due to an extremely successful TAB bet, a lottery win, and his overall good fortune on the racecourse. He bred Polo Prince on a small property outside of Auckland that he had acquired with winnings from his TAB wager. Laurie's wife, Edna Davis, who received the Cup from the Governor General, William Philip Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle, was reputed to be the fourth female owner to win the Melbourne Cup.

CONTACT INFORMATION +

Specialists

Guy Cairnduff

Head

Arts & Design
Melbourne
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900
E: Guy Cairnduff


Geoffrey Smith

Chairman

Australian & International Art
Melbourne  |  Sydney
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402
E: Geoffrey Smith
  

Ann Roberts

Ann Roberts

Specialist Consultant, Asian Art

Arts & Design
Melbourne
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900
E: Ann Roberts

Anthony Hurl

Specialist Consultant

Arts & Design
Adelaide
T: +61 (0)8 7225 7836
E: Anthony Hur
       

Brett Ballard

Brett Ballard

Senior Specialist

Australian & International Art
Sydney
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402
E: Brett Ballard

Fiona Hayward

Fiona Hayward

Senior Specialist

Australian & International Art
Melbourne
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900
E: Fiona Hayward

     


Fine Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design

AU0818  |  24 Oct 2017  |  Sydney
6 pm


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