Considered one of the most pivotal racedays of the season, Turnbull Stakes Day presented by Yellowglen did not disappoint with plenty of action both on and off the track for the 18,256 racegoers who enjoyed the glorious sunshine at Flemington on Saturday.
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Last year’s Emirates Stakes winner, Happy Trails, took out the feature Turnbull Stakes ahead of a star-studded field that included nine other Group 1 winners. Puissance de Lune beat Fawkner to second place and lost no admirers as he heads towards the $6.2 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.
HappyTrails - Photo by Sarah Ebbett
The Premier of Victoria and Minister for Racing Dr Denis Napthine officially opened Flemington’s luxurious new Owners’ and Trainers’ Lounge. The opening was attended by Australia’s leading owners and trainers and incorporated the launch of a DVD documenting the unbeaten career of Australia’s favourite horse, ‘Black Caviar – The horse of a lifetime’.
Dr Napthine was very impressed by the new facility and said “The new Owners’ and Trainers’ Lounge is a major step up from the old facilities and will improve the experience of those who make an investment – large or small – in Victorian racing by buying and owning a racehorse. Owners and trainers are at the heart of Victoria’s racing industry which delivers over $2 billion annually to the State economy”.
Andy Murphy was officially announced as the Schweppes Flemington Fling Bar Ambassador during an action-packed day. Guests in the Schweppes Flemington Fling Bar – one of the most popular destinations on-course during the Melbourne Cup Carnival – were put through their paces with cocktail and DJ mixing lessons as mixologists created cocktails and some of Australia’s hottest DJs spun tracks.
Shura Taft was trackside with Julius Marlow as the spokesperson for the Official Men’s Shoe of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, offering general admission racegoers complimentary shoe shines at the Bart Cummings statue. The shoe shining stations will return to keep Melbourne Cup Carnival racegoers looking spiffy.
New York based Australian jewellery designer Samantha Wills hosted an exclusive VIP event at Yellowglen House to launch Peacock Lane, her new sparkling wine creation in conjunction with Yellowglen winemaker Trina Smith. Guests included Zoe Badwi, Lauren Brain, Em Rusciano, Renae Ayris and Grant Smillie. Hundreds of men and women will be randomly selected by the roaming Yellowglen hosts during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and given a golden key to unlock this VIP experience.
The support card featured three Group 2 races, with Se Sauver taking out the Edward Manifold Stakes for Matt Laurie and Damian Lane, Platelet winning the Gilgai Stakes for Darren Weir and Michelle Payne, and Damian Browne taking out the Blazer stakes aboard Fire Up Fifi for Robert Heathcote.
