‘It’s bonkers’: Boomtown in the Birdcage with Bob Geldof
Like many international celebrities before him, Bob Geldof was left feeling slightly bemused and bewildered by the Melbourne Cup and Birdcage experience. Seated at a table inside Crown’s towering three-storey marquee with a glass of red wine, the Irish singer, songwriter and political activist said it was his first time at the Melbourne Cup.
Sir Bob Geldof chats with Age journalist Cara Waters at the Melbourne Cup.Credit: Penny Stephens
“I’ve been to the English versions, you know,” he said. “But no, I mean this is crazy, it’s bonkers. It’s like you’ve walked into this Christmas pantomime, a misplaced Christmas pantomime.”
The 72-year-old said when he was a boy growing up in Ireland, he used to attend the races and bet regularly.
“I just liked the whole atmosphere, the old bookies, all these old lags with the bags and bits of paper, I liked all that,” he said.
Geldof said he had one tip for a 50-to-one bet “so that’s worth the punt” but would not disclose the name of the horse to CBD.
“You and your bloody readers will slash it down to even money,” he said.
Geldof will be back in Australia next year for a one-man show, and is also preparing for the 40th anniversary of Band Aid and Live Aid, along with the 50th anniversary of the forming of the Boomtown Rats.
“So coming out to do a one-man show, telling stories, playing music, that’s actually a break in the chaos,” he said.
Geldof may not like Mondays, but he seems to be a fan of the first Tuesday in November.
Billionaire Fiona Geminder: ‘I’m going to the can factory in Coburg’
The billionaire package Pratt family sisters Fiona Geminder and Heloise Pratt, exiting Lexus en route to their fave hang in the Furphy marquee, were keen to avoid an interview with CBD.
Geminder tried to deflect attention from herself by pointing out that American heiress Nicky Hilton Rothschild was passing by.
Nicky Hilton Rothschild (left) and Rebecca Vallance.Credit: Eddie Jim
No Fiona, we only have eyes for Melburnian billionaires!
“Are you taping? Geminder asked nervously … “I can’t.”
Oh yes, you can. “I love, honestly, the Melbourne Cup, the colour, and the movement,” Geminder paused for what we thought was the emphasis, but it turned out her heel had caught between the Lexus floorboards.
“It’s a refresh of Melbourne,” said Geminder, co-chair and part owner of packaging company Visy.
Geminder said she was not a regular socialite as the company had to “provide a lot of packaging to a lot of people”.
“I’m out and about, but probably not to areas where you’d be going – factories and businesses.
“I’m going to the can factory tomorrow in Coburg, where we make cans for SPC baked beans and spaghetti.”
At this point Heloise Pratt appeared and revealed that she doesn’t drink or bet, which CBD thought might take away from the simple pleasures of a day at the Cup.
“(I’m here) to support Fiona to see…
“To see her drink and bet?” CBD suggested.
Both sisters laughed.
“No, no no I am just here because I love the passion.”
With that they were on their way.
Rich listers come out to play on Cup Day
Rich lister Ruslan Kogan popped into the Mumm marquee ahead of the main race on Tuesday.
Ruslan and Anastasia Kogan.Credit: Cara Waters
Kogan, founder of Kogan.com, was a reluctant Cup attendee, claiming he was “dragged along” to the races each year by his wife Anastasia who was resplendent in red Schiaparelli.
“She loves it and she’s into all the fashion and stuff,” he said.
Kogan’s only hot tip for the day was “drink lots of water, it’s a warm day”. When CBD pointed out he was inside the Mumm champagne marquee, he extended the advice to “the occasional champagne or two”.
Save the big dance … for another day
It might be a sitting day in Canberra, but that hasn’t kept the state politicians away from the Melbourne Cup. A few from the Premier State even snubbed Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys Cup Day rival event The Big Dance to soak up the vibes at Flemington.
Lobbyist and NSW Liberal Moderate powerbroker Michael Photios was in typically jolly spirits as he bounced between the marquees. In the Penfolds tent, we ran into a posse of NSW Nationals who’d sheepishly snuck south of the border, including state leader Dugald Saunders, former Berejiklian-government education minister Sarah Mitchell and shadow racing minister Kevin Anderson – at his Cup Day for “research purposes,” he told us.
Former Nine CEO Mike Sneesby was at Randwick Racecourse for Melbourne Cup Day.Credit: James Brickwood
Back at Royal Randwick, CBD’s spies spotted former Nine Chief Executive Mike Sneesby and NSW upper house MP and racing fanatic Mark Latham. Maybe they didn’t get invited to the Birdcage.
All aboard the champagne conveyor belt in Mumm
It was all about the conveyor belt serving glasses of champagne (Mumm, of course) and chips with caviar in the G.H. Mumm marquee.
Ultramarathon runner Nedd Brockmann was in charge of the “tap tap” moment for Cup Day, tapping a Magnum of champagne to spray into a fountain overhead.
Nedd Brockmann’s “tap tap” moment.Credit: Getty Images
Olympic swimmer Emma McKeon did the honours on Derby Day and copped a soaking, which Brockmann hoped he would avoid.
“She got covered,” Brockmann laughed.
Brockmann raised $4.6 million for charity with his recent 1600-kilometre run and said he was happy to be dressed up for the day and out of his sneakers.
Former swimmer Emma McKeon attends the unveiling of G. H. Mumm’s Birdcage Marquee last Thursday.Credit: Elke Meitzel
‘The Everest is not a thing’: The story of the Stay Away Cup
For the nation’s federal politicians, the 164th running of the $8.56 million Melbourne Cup was the Stay Away Cup.
The confluence of several factors – the cost-of-living crisis, upgrade scandals, a parliamentary sitting week, and the US election – meant federal MPs were on duty at Parliament House in Canberra. And anger was directed at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
As one prominent federal Coalition politician messaged CBD to explain their non-appearance: “Thanks Albo for scheduling a sitting – so NSW!” The MP added spikily, “The Everest is not a thing.”
Correction: An earlier version of this column said that Raphael Geminder, founder of Pact group, was in the Mumm marquee at the Melbourne Cup and attributed quotes to him. That person was not Mr Geminder, but someone claiming to be him. The Age apologises for the error.
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correction
An earlier version of this column said that Raphael Geminder, founder of Pact group, was in the Mumm marquee at the Melbourne Cup and attributed quotes to him. That person was not Mr Geminder, but someone claiming to be him. The Age apologises for the error.