Sydneysiders today got their chance to experience the allure of the $200,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy when it hit Martin Place this morning.

Having completed its four-day journey across the Nullarbor from Perth to Sydney, the 2018 trophy visited Martin Place as part of the 16th annual Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.

The day began with Lexus Ambassador Kate Waterhouse and VRC Ambassador Georgia Connolly entering Martin Place on horseback. Joining the glamorous duo was dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey John Letts.

Members of the public also had the opportunity to get up close with the 18-carat gold trophy and have their photo taken with Lofty the Clydesdale and Aussie the Clerk of the Course horse.

VRC Ambassador Georgia Connolly said it was wonderful to share the People’s Cup with the Sydney community.

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup holds a special place in many people’s hearts and it was fantastic to take the iconic trophy to Martin Place and share it with the people.”

The Tour farewells Sydney this afternoon and heads to outback Queensland, where it will attend the iconic Birdsville Races.

Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Ambassador and dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jim Cassidy will join the fun, with the 1993 and 1997-winning jockey set to ride into the Birdsville

Mounting Yard with the Lexus Melbourne Cup ahead of race 1 on Saturday 1st September. Sports broadcaster Hamish McLachlan will also accompany the Cup on its Queensland

expedition. The Channel 7 personality has a strong connection to the Melbourne Cup, with his great great-grandfather winning the 1931 Melbourne Cup with White Nose, defeating 1930 champion Phar Lap.

The 2018 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour began its four-month journey in London in July, making its way across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Since then, the ‘People’s Cup’ has visited towns and communities in New Zealand, Shepparton, Nagambie, Louth, Darwin, Katherine, Perth, Boyup Brook and Sydney.

Since its inaugural year in 2003, the Tour has travelled more than half a million kilometres and visited more than 400 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations, providing communities with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the magic of the Lexus Melbourne Cup.