The world-famous Melbourne Cup Carnival will come to a close with Emirates Stakes Day tomorrow (Saturday).
The traditional family day of the Carnival, Emirates Stakes Day is headlined by two $1 million Group 1s – the Emirates Stakes Stakes (1600m) and Patinack Farm Classic (1200m).
Fawkner remains the $5 favourite with The TAB to take out the million dollar Emirates Stakes for owner Lloyd Williams and jockey Nick Hall. It will need to beat a capacity field including Gai Waterhouse’s $7-chance Fat Al.
Many of Australia’s fastest sprinters will be looking to take advantage of Black Caviar’s absence in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic – a race the wonder mare has won in the last two years.
The TAB has installed Sea Siren as the $3.80 favourite in the Patinack Farm Classic ahead of Buffering at $5.50 and Mental at $6.
The support card features the intriguing Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m), offering a $100,000 bonus to a winner which was balloted out from this year’s Emirates Melbourne Cup. Although ineligible for the bonus, the Darren Weir-trained Puissance de Lune (Glen Boss) is the $2.60 race-favourite with The TAB, with the crack field including internationals Lost in the Moment and Shahwardi.
Media are invited to the Birdcage at 11.50am (for 12 noon) to see Joey and Captain Nichols, stars of the smash hit stage production War Horse, who will make a special and dramatic appearance in the enclosure.
The Emirates Stakes Day Fashions on the Field Enclosure will see a host of children and families competing in their finest racewear for Emirates Stakes Day Fashions on the Field supported by Myer and hosted by Channel Seven’s Melissa Hetherington and Myer Ambassador Kris Smith.
The judging panel will include Emirates Stakes Day Fashions on the Field Family Ambassadors Simone Callahan and Brooke Warne, model Barbara Licuria, Myer designer Wayne Cooper and Myer milliners Kim Fletcher and Melissa Jackson.
Pin & Win concludes on Emirates Stakes Day with the winners announced at 4.50pm on FTV. Proceeds from Pin & Win will support the 2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival charity partner, Vision Australia.
Limited tickets to Emirates Stakes Day are still available and must be pre-purchased from Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 136 122) or from Flinders Street, Southern Cross and North Melbourne train stations. General admission for Children 15 years and under is free (must be accompanied by an adult).
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10.20am
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Family – Registration
10.30am
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Family – Heats
11.10am
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Family – Final
11.20am
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Junior boys and girls, aged 6 – 12 – Registration
11.30am
Race 1
THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MARIBYRNONG PLATE (G3)
11.35am
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Junior boys and girls, aged 6 – 12 – Heats
12.00pm
WARHORSE APPEARANCE IN THE BIRDCAGE ENCLOSURE
12.10pm
Race 2
MOMENTUM ENERGY TROPHY
12.25pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Junior girls, aged 6 – 12 – Preliminary Final
12.40pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Junior boys, aged 6 – 12 – Final
12.50pm
Race 3
ANTLER LUGGAGE HANDICAP
12.55pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Junior girls, aged 6 – 12 – Final
1.00pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Senior, aged 13 – 17 – Registration
1.15pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Senior, aged 13 – 17 – Heats
1.30pm
Race 4
HILTON HOTELS STAKES (LR)
2.00pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Senior girls, aged 13 – 17 – Preliminary Final
2.15pm
Race 5
PATINACK FARM CLASSIC (G1)
2.20pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Senior boys, aged 13 – 17 – Final
2.35pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
SUPPORTED BY MYER
Senior girls, aged 13 – 17 – Final
2.50pm
EMIRATES STAKES DAY ENTERTAINMENT
Reece Mastin will perform Shout It Out in the Mounting Yard.
3.00pm
Race 6
EMIRATES STAKES (G1)
3.45pm
Race 7
MATRIARCH STAKES (G2)
4.30pm
Race 8
QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (G3)
4.50pm
Pin & Win Competition
5.10pm
Race 9
EMIRATES AIRLINE HANDICAP
5.30pm
2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival Trainer Award
2012 Ron Hutchinson Excellence Award