Melbourne Cup National Sweep visits Koroit spudpickers

How many potatoes fit inside the Melbourne Cup? Local Koroit spudpickers now know thanks to a regional fundraising push.

The question on everyone’s minds — how many spuds can fit in the Melbourne Cup, obviously — was finally answered when the biggest prize in Aussie racing visited Koroit last week.

Koroit potato farmers Paul McCutcheon, Leo Carey and Jack McCutcheon in the field with the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup. Picture: Jay Town

As part of an annual tour, the trophy has been to cities all over the world, and is now visiting regional Victorian towns in a fundraising push for local communities.

The cup’s National Sweep allows 24 bush towns to be allocated barriers in the race that stops the nation, with the town allocated the barrier of the winning horse awarded $50,000 to be given to a charity of its choosing.

Koroit is part of this year’s sweep.

Local Koroit picker Paul McCutcheon said to see the cup itself was a treat for him and his fellow workers.

“We were in the field when I got the call that the Melbourne Cup was in town and wanted to visit a potato farm,” Paul said.

“So, of course we had to say yes. We still can’t believe that our potatoes have been in this year’s trophy, and it has been a day that the boys definitely won’t forget.”

Originally published as Melbourne Cup National Sweep visits Koroit spudpickers