Racing is a great equaliser, so industry rivalries and intrigue were set aside at Caulfield on Saturday for the running of the 150th Caulfield Cup.
asserted
rivalries → set → Cup
The centre of power and influence in Melbourne was the invitation-only committee room at Caulfield, where politicians, racing heavyweights, business identities and a smattering of celebrities rubbed shoulders.
asserted
politicians → rub → shoulders
It was a serious flex and example of pulling power by the Melbourne Racing Club, which has Caulfield in its remit.
asserted
which → pull → remit
Not many doors were being knocked by politicians, as a slice of the political class took in the action at the track including Racing Minister Anthony Carbines, Deputy Opposition Leader David Southwick, shadow federal treasurer Tim Wilson and the retiring state Liberal member for Malvern, Michael O’Brien.
asserted
slice → knock → Malvern
The Melbourne Racing Club board – comprising chair Cameron Fisher, vice chair Jonathan Munz, treasurer Alison Saville, and committee members Caitrin Kelly, Belinda Meyers, Robyn Gray, Stephen Foster, David Gambell and Frank Pollio – was out in force along with club chief executive Tanya Fullarton.
asserted
board → comprise → Fullarton
Victoria Racing Club chair Neil Wilson, who recently announced he would step down after this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, and wife Stephanie were moving between the committee room and the mounting yard, where they were supporting friends who had runners in the big races.
asserted
who → announce → races
Racing Victoria boss Aaron Morrison, former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire businessman Gerry Ryan, trainer Gai Waterhouse, retired jockey Michelle Payne, award-winning actor Rachel Griffiths – fresh from the set of her new courtroom drama Slander – footy great Chris Judd, ex-jockey Tom Prebble and Mr Melbourne Martin Pakula (the former MP-turned Melbourne Grand Prix boss) were also mingling.
asserted
Morrison → retire → drama
Even former Melbourne Racing Club chair John Kanga, who resigned from his post last year, made an appearance.
asserted
who → resign → appearance
Prolific racehorse owners Ozzie Kheir, Rupert Legh and John O’Neill were spotted, while Melbourne’s breakfast radio king, 3AW’s Ross Stevenson, got the day off on a winning note when his horse, Captain Maverick, won the second race in Doomben.
asserted
horse → spot → Doomben
Meanwhile, down in the bustling corporate enclosure, the spring fling of socialising and marquee hopping was in full flight with the top destination being The Beverly marquee – or as we here at CBD like to call it, Planet Beverly.
asserted
we → bustle → it
Hosted by the folk behind the Beverly restaurant/bar in South Yarra, Cameron Northway and Emily Gurr, this was the cool kids’ lair.
asserted
this → host → Yarra
Sure, it was at the track, but whether some of the guests knew they were at the races or not was debatable.
asserted
they → know → races
New Hawthorn recruit Zach Merrett, the former Essendon star now carrying the banner as Caulfield Cup ambassador, was a bundle of nerves as he had a horse running in the group 1 Thousand Guineas.
Merrett’s brother-in-law is a blood stock agent with leading trainer Ciaron Maher.
asserted
law → carry → Maher
Merrett agreed to buy a share in the horse last year and had “forgotten” until recently that he was part of the ownership group.
asserted
he → agree → group
The horse had won its past two starts.
asserted
horse → win → starts
“It has been a wild six weeks,” the footballer told CBD.
asserted
footballer → tell → CBD
“I’m a bit nervous.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
Jason Kimberley, the entrepreneur, adventurer, author and former No.1 ticket holder at the Swans, made a run for best-dressed man at the track.
asserted
Kimberley → make → track
Forget trends – he bravely opted for a camel-coloured safari suit.
asserted
he → forget → suit
“Given most of the horses I back run like camels, I figured it was appropriate to wear a camel safari suit, sleeveless, to accommodate the very summery temperature,” he said.
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he → give → temperature
Kimberley’s fashion choice left many influencers in the shade.
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choice → leave → shade
“Well, I haven’t spotted any influencers, I’m not sure if I’d recognise them if I saw them,” he mused.
asserted
he → spot → them
“But, look, we’re here for fun today.”
asserted
we → look → fun
Sparkly Brightonites Zana Pali and Calista Clements parked their podcasts and social media projects for the day.
asserted
Pali → park → day
Clements, a fast rising loud voice in conservative media commentary, put a political spin on the day.
asserted
Clements → rise → day
“I love a day at the races, but my grand final is the Victorian state election when we can see Labor never return,” Clements said.
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Clements → love → races
Pali added: “Goodbye Charlie, or should I say Ben.”
asserted
I → add → Ben
Liberal MP Bev McArthur was spotted in the Sportsbet marquee with James Mathias, the executive director of the HR Nicholls Society.
asserted
McArthur → spot → Society
Former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers floated through the enclosure.
asserted
Rogers → float → enclosure
Nine years on from her title win, she still retains that pageant polish.
asserted
she → retain → polish
Noted hair artist Joey Scandizzo bucked fashion standards – for him a shirt was optional under his suit.
asserted
shirt → note → suit
Much was made of influencer Adelle Petropoulos attending the Cup, as she’s big in the social media space.
asserted
she → make → space
Petropoulos, who arrived an 90 minutes late for her media call – she blamed a wardrobe malfunction for her tardy arrival – gained notice last year after she split with her fiance and wore what was to be her wedding gown to the Australian Grand Prix’s Glamour On The Grid party.
asserted
what → arrive → party
She has parlayed that burst of attention into a career as a young female empowerment TikTokker.
asserted
She → parlay → TikTokker
Let’s just say the bar to fame or social profile is set quite low these days.
asserted
bar → let → fame
The Aporia
