St Mary's Primary School Clarkes Hill proudly welcomed the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, giving students, staff and families a unique opportunity to experience one of Australia's most iconic sporting traditions.
As part of the nationally renowned community program, the school hosted the famous 18-carat gold Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy alongside special guest Damien Oliver, one of Australia's most celebrated jockeys and a member of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Principal Clare Scanlon welcomed representatives of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, students, staff, parents and community members to the special event.
“Today was such a special and memorable experience for our school community. To be one of the hosts of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour was an incredible honour and to have the GOAT himself, Damien Oliver and the iconic Melbourne Cup right here with our students, families and community made the day even more meaningful. Seeing the excitement on the children’s faces and sharing in the magic and tradition of the Cup was something we will all remember for a very long time. We feel incredibly privileged to have been part of such a wonderful experience,” Ms Scanlon said.
The event featured presentations on the history and significance of the Melbourne Cup, together with insights into Damien Oliver's remarkable racing career. Oliver remains one of Australia's most accomplished jockeys, with three Melbourne Cup victories and countless achievements across more than 35 years in the sport.
Students had the opportunity to engage directly with Mr Oliver during an interactive question-and-answer session, where he shared personal experiences from his career and encouraged students to work hard towards their goals.
The excitement continued as students viewed, held and photographed the Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy before inviting Mr Oliver to participate in a light-hearted race across the school playground.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is one of the Victoria Racing Club's most significant community engagement programs. Since commencing in 2003, the tour has travelled more than one million kilometres and visited hundreds of communities, schools, hospitals and aged-care facilities throughout Australia and internationally. The initiative aims to bring communities together, share the legacy of the Melbourne Cup and support local charitable and community causes.
The visit to St Mary's Primary School Clarkes Hill reflected the tour's ongoing mission of inspiring communities and providing memorable experiences for people of all ages.