Museum gets hands on rare SA trophy

A rare solid gold trophy from a 19th century Adelaide horse race has been bought by Australia's national museum.

The 1881 trophy from an annual steeplechase meeting run by the Adelaide Hunt Club was made by esteemed colonial silver and goldsmith Henry Steiner.

The National Museum of Australia says the cup is one of only 16 of its kind made in the Australia during the 1800s, many of which were melted down.