Sport
30 October, 2025
St Arnaud couple's golden ticket to Melbourne Cup
Damian and Melissa Drum will be trackside on Tuesday, crossing fingers and toes the horse they part own with 17 others will win the race that stops the nation.
ST ARNAUD couple are in the running - literally - to take home arguably the country’s most valued prize in racing.
Damian and Melissa Drum will be trackside on Tuesday, crossing fingers and toes the horse they part own with 17 others will win the race that stops the nation.
“We still can’t believe it honestly,” Mrs Drum said.
“I think it’s every racing-lover’s dream and we’re living it.”
Their horse Torranzino’s win at the Geelong Cup last week was their golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup. “It’s what you hope and work so hard for,” Mr Drum said.
Mr Drum said it was an anxious wait until the big day, with every box needing to be checked off before the six-year-old gelding could even run.
“We’ve got word that she passed all her scans, so we’re over the moon about that,” he said.
“I just don’t think we will sleep until next week.
The couple said trainer Paul Preusker, of Horsham, had “hand-picked the horse in New Zealand” and put a lot of work into him.
“He said he was a bit of a tricky one, but he’s worked her out,” Mr Drum said. “He settles well now and seems to be growing into it, which is good.”
They said it was an exciting day for the whole race team.
Mrs Drum said both she and her husband had been around horses for as long as they could remember.
“Three out of four of us [siblings] are into racing and dad had a bit of success later in life with a win at 85,” she said.
“It’s something that just brings everyone together.”
That was something they had seen happen across town.
“We have so many people come up and talk to us about it,” Mr Drum said.
“It’s something we can all share, it’s not just success for us, it’s for the whole town.”
While they say superstitions aren’t as big a deal as they could be, Mrs Drum will be choosing her race day outfit wisely.
“I usually like to wear the colours of the silks, which this time are yellow, red and green. But I’ve been told green is an unlucky colour to wear in racing.
“We won’t worry, we’ll just take in the moment.”
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