Eagle Farm Rocked on Melbourne Cup Day
Queensland doesn’t get much better than this - the Toyota Melbourne Cup Day Live Party at Eagle Farm saw over 17,000 guests revel at Brisbane’s premier racing venue. While thousands indulged in corporate marquees or the Brisbane Racing Club’s sold out ticketed functions, Queensland’s spectacular spring climate ensured the day was a huge success.
While housands of punters had a successful day, there were also some big winners in the fashion stakes. With a high standard of fashion across the racecourse, over 65 fillies contested the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre Fashions on the Field. After careful deliberation from the judges, some of Brisbane’s fashion industry elites, Sunshine Coast fashion student, Dayna Wandrey, was awarded Runner Up with her self-designed lace embroidered floral dress, accompanied by a Tracey Mac headpiece.
Fashions on the Field winner Stephanie Nasternak of Thornlands, gave a bold splash of spring colour with her yellow Nicola Finetti dress. Her floral embellished ensemble was completed with matching hat and gloves, reminiscent of 1960’s racewear. Ms Nasternak now has the hard decision of determining who will accompany her on her trip to New Zealand where she will compete in Auckland Racing Club’s Mercedes Prix de Fashion with over $100,000 worth of prizes on offer – including a Mercedes Benz. Not to mention over $3,000 worth of prizes and gift cards from Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and its retailers, which Ms Nasternak also took home.
The prizes continued with a $500 Indooroopilly Shopping Centre voucher awarded to Sarah Gillham, with hundreds of patrons voting via SMS for their favourite fashionista. Mary-Anne Bassingthwaite also left the track with a $200 gift card, for texting in her Viewer’s Choice Vote.
The action heated up on the track in race four, when Patinack Farm’s Metallurgical, purchased for $2.2m, took out the $8,450 1,000m Toyota Fleet Management Maiden Handicap.
Ironically, Warringah saluted in race 5 at Eagle Farm on Cup Day, when this time last year, he finished last in the race that stops a nation.
An uplifting finish to the days racing saw local apprentice Tyrone Huxham ride his first metropolitan winner aboard Dai Kon, for Sunshine Coast trainer Jason McLachlan.
Finally, you can’t have a party without some great music. While Brisbane stalwart Tuffy entertained the crowd throughout the day, the biggest cheer was saved to welcome Regurgitator who flew in to rock the Racecourse at the end of what was a vibrant Brisbane raceday.
