Powerbrokers, influencers, safari suits descend on Caulfield Cup

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.

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.

It was a serious flex and example of pulling power by the Melbourne Racing Club, which has Caulfield in its 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.

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.

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. Michael Ramsden, current vice chairman of the VRC, was also in the power room.

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.

Even former Melbourne Racing Club chair John Kanga, who resigned from his post last year, made an 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. Stevenson is a winner on the track as well as on air.

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.

Hosted by the folk behind the Beverly restaurant/bar in South Yarra, Cameron Northway and Emily Gurr, this was the cool kids’ lair.

Sure, it was at the track, but whether some of the guests knew they were at the races or not was debatable.

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. Merrett agreed to buy a share in the horse last year and had “forgotten” until recently that he was part of the ownership group. The horse had won its past two starts.

“It has been a wild six weeks,” the footballer told CBD. “I’m a bit nervous. It is my first group 1 runner.”

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. Forget trends – he bravely opted for a camel-coloured safari 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.

Kimberley’s fashion choice left many influencers in the shade.

“Well, I haven’t spotted any influencers, I’m not sure if I’d recognise them if I saw them,” he mused. “But, look, we’re here for fun today.”

Sparkly Brightonites Zana Pali and Calista Clements parked their podcasts and social media projects for the day. Clements, a fast rising loud voice in conservative media commentary, put a political spin on the 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.

Pali added: “Goodbye Charlie, or should I say Ben.”

Liberal MP Bev McArthur was spotted in the Sportsbet marquee with James Mathias, the executive director of the HR Nicholls Society. Former Victorian premier Denis Napthine was also among the marquee guests.

Former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers floated through the enclosure. Nine years on from her title win, she still retains that pageant polish.

Noted hair artist Joey Scandizzo bucked fashion standards – for him a shirt was optional under his suit.

Much was made of influencer Adelle Petropoulos attending the Cup, as she’s big in the social media 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.

She has parlayed that burst of attention into a career as a young female empowerment TikTokker. Let’s just say the bar to fame or social profile is set quite low these days.

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