Did you know that the race that stops the nation has been running since 1861? Understandably over the years there have been some incredible one-of-a-kind pieces of merchandise produced to commemorate race wins and celebrate all that is the Melbourne Cup. Now auction house Mossgreen is putting an interesting assortment of unique memorabilia under the hammer.

Custom Trophies, Gift Items and More!

Fans of racing history clamor for products featuring the most famous cup winner of all, Phar Lap. At this auction, racing aficionados will be able to bid on a stunning charcoal illustration of the horse along with a metal gift tin featuring Phar Lap on its lid.

Not all of the items are as marketable as illustrations and gift boxes though. Take for example an ink well made from the hoof of Musket, the stallion that sired Melbourne Cup winner Carbine! Definitely not the kind of custom product you'd see produced nowadays. There are however, some more standard products such as paintings of winning horses and trophies won by trainers and jockeys in races leading up to the big one.

What makes these products so desirable is their rarity and their unique, old-school aesthetics. But if you're not willing to shell out the thousands of dollars required to own one of Lee Freeman's Sydney Cups or a gift tin featuring Phar Lap, then it's easy enough to put together your own trophy or box for gifting featuring a horse or any rustic design of your choosing. Who knows, in 100 years maybe they'll be collectors items too?

Melbourne Cup products first seen here: http://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/hands-up-for-melbourne-cup-memorabilia-20141023-11aq5g.html