Toparoa
Toparoa
New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse
Toparoa (foaled 1948) was a New Zealand bred thoroughbred racehorse that was most notable for winning the 1955 Melbourne Cup.
| Toparoa | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Massowa |
| Grandsire | Massine |
| Dam | Miss Sally |
| Damsire | Posterity |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 1948 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Colour | Bay |
| Owner | Norm McDonald |
| Trainer | T J Smith |
| Jockey | Neville Sellwood |
| Major wins | |
| Melbourne Cup (1955) | |
Toparoa started as the 6/1 second favourite in the 1955 Melbourne Cup. Holding favouritism at 2/1 was future Hall of Fame champion Rising Fast who was attempting to go back-to-back after winning the race in 1954.[1]
Rising Fast carried the top weight of 10 stone (63.5 kilograms), whilst Toparoa with jockey Neville Sellwood carried just 7 stone 8 pound (48 kilograms).[2]
Toparoa was able to hold off the fast finishing Rising Fast to win the race by three quarters of a length and give trainer T J Smith his first winner of the Melbourne Cup. Sellwood was subsequently suspended for two months for causing interference to Rising Fast during the race, however controversy followed when no protest was lodged and Toparoa remained the winner.[3]
| Sire Massowa (GB) 1939 |
Massine (FR) 1920 |
Consols | Doricles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Console | |||
| Mauri | Ajax | ||
| La Camargo | |||
| Evangeline (GB) 1933 |
Press Gang | Hurry On | |
| Fifinella | |||
| Daughter-in-Law | Son-in-Law | ||
| Clerical Error | |||
| Dam Miss Sally (NZ) 1937 |
Posterity (GB) 1926 |
Son-in-Law | Dark Ronald |
| Mother in Law | |||
| Hemlock | Spearmint | ||
| Keystone | |||
| Miss Thespian (NZ) 1925 |
Thespian | Absurd | |
| Leta | |||
| Sea Elf | Seaton Delaval | ||
| St Evelyn |
- "1955 Melbourne Cup". millersguide.com.au. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- "Remembering Rising Fast". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- "Neville Francis Sellwood". adb.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- "Toparoa Horse Profile". pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 7 January 2022.