Pony born in Hobart on Melbourne Cup day a herculean effort

HERCULES may never grow big enough to take part in the Melbourne Cup, but the miniature pony will certainly get all the love he needs at ZooDoo Wildlife Park. WATCH THE VIDEO

HERCULES may never grow big enough to take part in the Melbourne Cup, but the miniature pony will certainly get all the love he needs from his mother Annie at ZooDoo Wildlife Park.

Born about 9am yesterday at the Richmond zoo, Hercules arrived just in time for the race that stops a nation that afternoon.

Miniature pony Hercules born at ZooDoo yesterday, getting to know Kurt Smith, 2. Picture: KIM EISZELE

ZooDoo general manager Donna Cuttriss-Smith said their horses gave birth about spring, with two to three foals born each year.

“He’s our first Melbourne Cup baby,” Ms Cuttriss-Smith said.

“We called him Hercules because he’s so little.”

Two weeks ago the zoo also welcomed a baby black capped capuchin monkey from first-time mother, Bintu.

The species is native to the Amazon Basin and South America.

Ms Cuttriss-Smith said the baby was not yet named but called on the public to think up a unisex name as the sex wouldn’t be known for another week. Comment below with your ideas, or email to: [e-mail] or contact ZooDoo.

Originally published as Pony born in Hobart on Melbourne Cup day a herculean effort