Cup-winning jockey coming to Stratford

Scott Seamer, on Ethereal, after winning the Caulfield Cup in 2001.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Scott Seamer will visit Stratford in August for the 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour.

Scott is an ambassador for the 15th annual tour of Australia and New Zealand and will take part is a series of community events during his day in Stratford.

Scott rose to fame in 2001, when he won five Group 1 races throughout the year, including the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield, on Ethereal.

In the years following, he triumphed in numerous Group 1 races, including New Zealand's Mercedes Derby, the Mackinnon Stakes, Golden Slipper and the AJC Derby.

VRC Chairman Amanda Elliott said she was thrilled to have Scott join this year's 15th Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour giving communities across Australia and New Zealand the opportunity to meet a racing legend.

"The Melbourne Cup is the race that stops a nation and for 14 years the iconic trophy has toured Australia and New Zealand, bringing together communities to experience the magic and rich history of the Melbourne Cup.

"What better way to celebrate this iconic piece of Australia's cultural heritage than to have heroes of the Melbourne Cup like Scott Seamer join the Tour in Stratford?"

The Cup will visit Stratford on Sunday 6 August. The Stratford Business Association has been busy organising a series of events for the day.

The Cup, which has its own passport and gets a seat of its own on the plane, will visit all three rest homes in Stratford, before going on display in the town during a fun family event around Prospero Place. In the evening, a more formal evening is planned, with tickets selling quickly.

Since its inaugural year, the Tour has travelled more than 494,000km and visited more than 377 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations, providing communities with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the magic of the Emirates Melbourne Cup firsthand.

Community members are encouraged to upload photos with the Cup to Facebook, using the hashtags #PeoplesCup and #EmiratesMelbourneCup, for the chance to win a trip for two to Flemington for the running of the 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup.