Racing: Trainer celebrates region's rich history

MUM'S THE WORD: John Bary is hoping to savour the occasion with mother Ann in Melbourne.

The future beckons but history is a relentless master whose values aren't lost on Hastings trainer John Bary.

"It's a lot of history and I'm aware of history because without knowing where you come from you're not going to know where you're going," says the 45-year-old as he prepares to embark on a family mission to acknowledge 100 years of Hawke's Bay ties with the 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup alongside the three-legged one his family has treasured when his great-grandfather, the late Wilfred Gatonby Stead, won it in 1916 as the owner of Sasanof.

"A hundred years is a long time in New Zealand history so we're a young country. As a family we've never looked in the past but always looked at tomorrow to go forward so you do need to know your history and it's kind of a cool thing," says Bary.

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) announced this week the Bay has been selected to host the $175,000 18-carat gold trophy following the special announcement at Darren Weir's stables in Ballarat, Victoria, the heartland of last year's Melbourne Cup-winning trainer.

This cup will travel to 34 towns and cities across New Zealand and Australia, before returning to Flemington for the biggest race in the southern hemisphere on Tuesday, November 1.

The selection of the Bay as host of a leg of the tour on Saturday, July 23, is for the commitment the HB Racing Club has made in providing a comprehensive schedule of activities for the entire community to enjoy while the cup is in town.

Bay club general manager Andrew Castles says it will be an unforgettable experience that will unite the community.

"We are delighted the cup is coming to Hawke's Bay because it gives our community a unique opportunity to celebrate our region's rich racing history," says Castles.

"2016 marks the centenary of the Hawke's Bay-owned-and-trained Sasanof winning the 1916 Melbourne Cup and we have a wonderful opportunity to bring the 1916 and 2016 cups together to commemorate 100 years of Hawke's Bay's involvement."

Bary says people often get hung up on winning a Melbourne Cup winner someday.

"Yes I'd love one one day and we all would - I've got a second at the Cox Plate with Jimmy Choux in 2011 - so I've got to go back and win one of those above the [Melbourne] cup," he says of the retired champion stallion who was named New Zealand Horse of the Year.

Nevertheless, he sees the cups event as another drawcard and occasion to link the Bay with the most important date on the racing calendar in this part of the world.

The VRC had approached the Bary family early to plan the event.

"They had asked for it when they were here a couple of years ago on the possibility of having it when the 100 years are on over there for a couple of weeks."

Bary believes the two cups will go to Sasanof Lodge, along Longlands Rd in Hastings, for a function before they are taken to Melbourne.

Bary and wife Laura, who have two children, son Kobie, 14, and daughter Fleur, 11, are hoping to be in Melbourne courtesy of Emirates flight come November 1.

Before the cup comes to the Bay it'll be displayed in Auckland on Monday, July 18, and Palmerston North on Thursday, July 21.

People are encouraged to upload photos with the cup during the tour to Instagram, using the hashtags #PeoplesCup and #EmiratesMelbourneCup, for the chance to win a trip for two to Flemington for the big race day.