Toparoa (foaled 1948) was a New Zealand bred thoroughbred racehorse that was most notable for winning the 1955 Melbourne Cup.

Toparoa
SireMassowa
GrandsireMassine
DamMiss Sally
DamsirePosterity
SexGelding
Foaled1948
CountryNew Zealand
ColourBay
OwnerNorm McDonald
TrainerT J Smith
JockeyNeville Sellwood
Major wins
Melbourne Cup (1955)

Melbourne Cup

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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]

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Toparoa (NZ) 1948[4]
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

References

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  1. ^ "1955 Melbourne Cup". millersguide.com.au. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Remembering Rising Fast". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Neville Francis Sellwood". adb.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Toparoa Horse Profile". pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 7 January 2022.