Toparoa

Toparoa (foaled 1948) was a New Zealand bred thoroughbred racehorse that was most notable for winning the 1955 Melbourne Cup.

Toparoa
Sire	Massowa
Grandsire	Massine
Dam	Miss Sally
Damsire	Posterity
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	1948
Country	New Zealand
Colour	Bay
Owner	Norm McDonald
Trainer	T J Smith
Jockey	Neville Sellwood
Major wins
Melbourne Cup (1955)

Melbourne Cup

Toparoa started as the 6/1 second favourite in the 1955 Melbourne Cup. Holding favouritism at 2/1 was future Hall of Fame champion Rising Fast who was attempting to go back-to-back after winning the race in 1954.^[1]

Rising Fast carried the top weight of 10 stone (63.5 kilograms), whilst Toparoa with jockey Neville Sellwood carried just 7 stone 8 pound (48 kilograms).^[2]

Toparoa was able to hold off the fast finishing Rising Fast to win the race by three quarters of a length and give trainer T J Smith his first winner of the Melbourne Cup. Sellwood was subsequently suspended for two months for causing interference to Rising Fast during the race, however controversy followed when no protest was lodged and Toparoa remained the winner.^[3]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Toparoa (NZ) 1948^[4]

Sire Massowa (GB) 1939	Massine (FR) 1920	Consols	Doricles
			Console
		Mauri	Ajax
			La Camargo
	Evangeline (GB) 1933	Press Gang	Hurry On
			Fifinella
		Daughter-in-Law	Son-in-Law
			Clerical Error
Dam Miss Sally (NZ) 1937	Posterity (GB) 1926	Son-in-Law	Dark Ronald
			Mother in Law
		Hemlock	Spearmint
			Keystone
	Miss Thespian (NZ) 1925	Thespian	Absurd
			Leta
		Sea Elf	Seaton Delaval
			St Evelyn

References

1. "1955 Melbourne Cup". millersguide.com.au. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
2. "Remembering Rising Fast". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
3. "Neville Francis Sellwood". adb.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
4. "Toparoa Horse Profile". pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 7 January 2022.