With spring racing fever once again gripping Melbourne as the city prepares for the running of the 2017 Melbourne Cup, Leonard Joel has taken the opportunity to entice auction goers to obtain their own piece of racing history.

The auction, from 2pm Thursday November 2 at 333 Malvern Road South Yarra, features a range of racing memorabilia from a metal bust, pin and tribute trophy of iconic Australian racehorse Phar Lap to original photographs of Flemington racecourse taken about 1884.

On the base of the bust are the words “Phar Lap, 37 wins from 51 starts, 1928-32”.

Watch lovers will be in their element when the Robert Herbert collection of Seiko wristwatches and associated items goes under the hammers from 6pm Wednesday November 1 at Leonard Joel 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

All 228 lots carry very affordable catalogue estimates of a few hundred dollars and there are plenty of bargains to be obtained.

Highlights include a 2006-2016 divers automatic wristwatch and a 1973 chronograph automatic both with day, date and stainless steel cases.

In 1847, John Smith leased vast tracts of land among the rolling pastoral vista of New South Wales mid west and established a giant Merino empire that remained a family legacy for 175 years.

Originally called Buree after the Aboriginal tribe which resided there, the property came to be known as Boree Cabonne – Boree after the Myall trees that grew in the valley and Cabonne meaning a big collection or assembly.

A rare Demétre Chiparus figurine is a major highlight of Sotheby’s Australia forthcoming Fine Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design auction from 6pm Tuesday October 24 in Sydney at The Hughenden 14 Queen Street, Woollahra.

The circa 1925 Dancer of Kapurthala has been held in the distinguished South Australian Angas family collection for more than 90 years.

With a catalogue estimate of $80,000-$100,000, the direct inspiration source for the alluringly slender figure appears to be the Spanish flamenco dancer Anita Delgado.