Sport

Melbourne Cup fever a winner at Undera

By Gus Underwood

Nov 27, 2025

Old Underaites huddle around the trophies.

It might be only a dot on the map, but the small hamlet of Undera literally gave a Melbourne Cup reception to some former locals recently.

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And the Melbourne Cup was front and square at the celebrations.

Former local Neville Smith brought the prized Melbourne Cup trophy back to Undera – his home of 20 years mid last century – to share in the recent Melbourne Cup win of the champion galloper he owns, Half Yours, with former friends and football teammates from his days at Undera when his parents ran the local general store.

And the Undera pub was bursting at the seams to welcome Neville and his brothers Glen and Daryl and the Melbourne Cup to the celebrations.

Ray Sellwood, one of the organisers of the visit, said mine host of the Undera Hotel Brett Gilbert, had to knock back reservations to attend the function.

“It was packed out,” Sellwood said.

“A lot of former locals and those who knew Neville and his family during their days at Undera were there to catch up and enjoy the evening which went off better than expected. It was like an Undera reunion.”

Sellwood said one of the highlights of the Melbourne Cup visit was the stretch limousine Neville hired to make the visit and bring 10 of his friends to come from Melbourne with the cup.

“It was a great night,” Sellwood said.