SITTING in the classroom as a 10-year-old student at St John's Primary School, Dennington, in western Victoria, in 1991 is the first memory Ciaron Maher has of the Melbourne Cup.
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Maher and his classmates, under the guidance of teacher Colleen Fawkes, took part in a sweep on the Melbourne Cup while watching the Bart Cummings-trained Let's Elope win the race that stops a nation.
Fast forward to 2020, Maher now one of Australia's leading horse trainers who has three runners in Tuesday's $8 million Melbourne Cup, has fond memories of that day back in 1991.
"I never knew a thing about horse racing back then," Maher told The Standard.
"My family had no interest in racing but I got caught up in the occasion in 1991.
"I can remember Colleen organised a sweep and all the kids got a horse each.
"She put up balloons and streamers in the classroom.
"I thought to myself this is a big event. The winner and place-getters all got chocolate Mars Bars.
"The old television was wheeled into the classroom on a trolley. Colleen was a great teacher.
"I ended up training a horse called Royal Hawaiian for Colleen to win a race with Michelle Payne in the saddle at the 2013 Warrnambool May Carnival."
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Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, saddles up the last start Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet plus lightweight hopes Etah James and Persan in the 3200-metre group one race.
"I'm really happy with the progress of our three runners leading into the cup," he said.
"Sir Dragonet has not put a foot wrong since his Cox Plate win.
"Etah James ran well in the Moonee Valley Cup and Persan is a light-weight chance.
"Etah James and Persan are rough place hopes at big odds in a tough race while Sir Dragonet looks a real chance of winning going on his effort in the Cox Plate."
Bookmakers rate Sir Dragonet as a $10 chance in the early betting markets.
Persan is a $31 hope and Etah James a $81 chance.
The Melbourne Cup which will be run with no patrons on-course is scheduled to start at 3pm.
