When it comes to Melbourne’s Spring racing carnival, politics are happily put aside – at least as far as Bill Shorten and Julie Bishop are concerned. Here, pictured inside the Mumm tent with their partners, they were more interested in who was leading the way in the races than who was leading the party.
More than 60,000 racegoers are expected to flock to Flemington tomorrow for the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s Ladies’ Day –Kennedy Oaks Day.
Following Tuesday’s Lexus Melbourne Cup, racing attention turns to the $1 million Group 1 classic for three-year-old fillies, the Kennedy Oaks (2500m). The Darren Weir-trained Amphitrite is the $3.40 favourite with TAB, with second favourite Aristia at $4.60 and Verry Elleegant $4.80. Michelle Payne will ride Miner’s Miss for her father Paddy Payne, with the filly giving Paddy his first winner in nine years when she won in October.
The exclusive Birdcage will host an array of celebrities including supermodel Megan Gale and racing royalty Kate Waterhouse at Lexus, Australian model Elyse Taylor at Mumm, fashion blogger Nadia Fairfax and model Montana Cox at Kennedy, and 2015 Melbourne Cup hero Michelle Payne at Tabcorp.
On the ultimate day of Myer Fashions on the Field, hosted by Myer ambassadors Rachael Finch and Kris Smith, the Women’s Racewear competition concludes with the highly anticipated National Final to be judged by Jennifer Hawkins, Kirsten Clemens, Fashion Editor of ELLE Australia Caroline Tran, Executive Fashion Editor of the Herald Sun Kim Wilson and Face of Kennedy Jaimee Bell Kennedy.
Racing Victoria will also honour women who have achieved sporting greatness at a special Celebrating Women in Sport event. The annual event, which was created to inspire women to follow their dreams and succeed in sport, will profile female change makers in racing and other sports including AFLW, Commonwealth Games, Winter Olympics, basketball and athletics.
Hosted by Giaan Rooney, Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist and popular media personality, the event will include a number of inspiring female athletes and administrators from a range of sporting codes, including Criquette Head, the first female trainer to win G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s most prestigious race; Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup; and Amanda Elliott, the first female chairman of the VRC.
