The trophy for the famous Golden Slipper horse race has gone missing after last being seen in the studio at Nova FM during Ricki-Lee Coulter’s radio show on Monday morning.
The Australian Turf Club has asked for help from the public as it tries to track down the award with help from the radio station.
‘The trophy was last seen in Nova’s green room, and the Australian Turf Club is working closely with the team at Nova to retrace its movements and locate the precious prize ahead of the upcoming race,’ the ATC said in a statement.
ATC interim CEO Steve McMahon added: ‘The TAB Golden Slipper trophy holds enormous significance for the Australian Turf Club and the racing community.
‘At this stage, we are still clarifying its movements following this morning’s appearance at Nova.
‘We’re asking anyone who may have seen the trophy after the broadcast to stay tuned as we work through the details.’
Pictured: The Golden Slipper trophy, which has gone missing after being brought to Nova FM’s studios on Monday
The award was last seen during Ricki-Lee Coulter’s radio show on Monday morning
The trophy is pictured at the studio shortly before it disappeared, with the Australian Turf Club asking for assistance from the public as it tries to track it down
The award was at Nova FM as part of the publicity push for the start of the Autumn Racing Carnival, which begins on March 14 with the Pink Ladies Lunch at Rosehill.
The Slipper will celebrate its 70th anniversary when it’s run on March 21.
First run in 1957, the Golden Slipper Stakes is held over 1200 metres and is regarded as one of the nation’s top races.
Some of the most legendary trainers in Australian racing have featured in the race, with Gai Waterhouse winning it seven times, just ahead of her father, T.J. Smith, on six victories.
The race also produced one of the sport’s most memorable moments Down Under when John Singleton’s horse Belle du Jour took the title in 2000.
Singleton shouted the public bar at Rosehill after the win in an act of generosity that was estimated to have cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.