Toowoomba business Hogan’s Jewellers adds jewel to Toowoomba Turf Club Clifford Park King of the Mountain crown

A Toowoomba business has added a layer of glitz and glamour to Queensland’s richest provincial horse race with the addition of an expensive ‘jewel’ to the King of the Mountain crown.

Paul Reedy (left) and Lachlan Hogan, jeweller with the King of the Mountain trophies at Hogans Family Jewellers. Picture: Nev Madsen.

RACING: It’s already Queensland’s richest provincial race, but a new level of glamour has been added to the King of the Mountain.

Hogan’s Jewellers and Potato Press have joined forces to create a series of trophies for the winning horse, trainer and jockey.

At $15,0000 for the larger trophy and nearly $6000 for the two smaller versions, the trophies are among the most expensive in Queensland.

Paul Reedy (left) and Lachlan Hogan, jeweller with the King of the Mountain trophies at Hogans Family Jewellers. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Lachlan Hogan has years of experience creating unique pieces but the challenge of creating trophies was a welcome first for the jeweller.

“I have never done anything like this before,” Hogan said.

“The whole process from concept to production took a few months and there is over a day’s work of labour in each piece.

“The timber and the perspex and glass layers represent the Great Dividing Range and the mountains surrounding Toowoomba.

“Then there is 18 karat yellow gold horse silhouette with a white gold crown and a diamond set with the highest grade diamonds that we (Hogan’s Jewellers) are renowned for.”

The quality of the trophies match the quality of the race field which includes some of Queensland’s top horses.

The Steve Tregea trained Niccanova headlines the field of 12 runners.

The talented nine-year-old has 10 wins from 52 starts and has amassed more than $1 million in prizemoney.

Another Tregea trained runner, Argyle Lane, will also feature in the race.

“He’s (Argyle Lane) won five of his seven starts and he’s the perfect candidate for the King of the Mountain,” Josh King, who works as trainer with Tregea, said.

“It’s a great race to be on and it’s worked out perfect timing for him, coming up through the ranks.

“The other fella Niccanova is a bit of a warhorse.

“He’s won a Group 2 so it only made common sense for him to be here.

“We picked out the race about nine months ago for him, and we’ve really set him up for this one race.

“They’ll both be very competitive.”

The barrier draw for the King of the Mountain will be held on Wednesday, December 28 with the race to be run on December 31.