Where to watch the Melbourne Cup/The Big Dance in Sydney and at what time
From lunch with Real Housewives to a $30k hotel suite, here are Sydney’s most luxurious Melbourne Cup/The Big Dance events for those who can’t make it trackside on Tuesday.
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Real Housewives of Sydney star Victoria Montano will get Sydney’s elite off and racing, as the cities establishments mark The Melbourne Cup and The Big Dance.
We’ve found the most luxe events where Sydneysiders who can’t make it trackside to Flemington or Randwick will be kicking their heels up.
Stylist Montano, who is one of the new faces to join the Binge franchise this year, is a guest at Merivale’s popular Pool Club event which includes DJs up until 8pm.
Montano will be dining at Italian restaurant Uccello, which has views over the pool.
Among guests at the event include Justin Hemmes and his friends, as well as the Sheeva Tavakoli, who is the wife of Double Bay’s most sought-after breast surgeon Dr Kourosh Tavakoli, who at one time was rumoured to be joining the Real Housewives cast.
Montano, who is a horse lover and equestrian, said when she was younger she attended the races, but “but now I’m 40 I need to sit down a little bit more”.
“Plus it’s the only Tuesday of the year where you can get your hair done. And have a long lunch.”
But that doesn’t mean she’s not going to have a flutter, and is putting her money on Wicklow, which is being ridden by jockey Tommy Berry, in The Big Dance.
Other events held at Merivale venues, including the $275 lunch at Totti’s Bondi, are have sold out.
Across the city, Sunrise’s Natalie Barr will once again hosting a showcase lunch at Crown’s Woodcut. The $295 lunch includes a glass of champagne on arrival and a four-course menu curated by chef Ross Lusted, which includes a spanner crab, Rangers Valley Black Market Sirloin and Murray cod. After, guests will head upstairs to Crown Sydney’s rooftop bar, Cirq, to continue the party.
The newly-opened French Bistro Charlotte across the bridge in McMahon’s Point is hosting it’s inaugural Melbourne Cup day lunch. Guests start the day with a toast of champagne, followed by a $179pp deluxe menu prepared by Michelin chef Hiroshi Manaka.
Ngali founder Denni Francisco, who became the first Indigenous Designer to have a solo show at Australian Fashion Week earlier in the year, is the guest of honour at Q Dining’s Melbourne Cup luncheon at harbourside hotel Pullman Grand Quay.
$30K FOR SYDNEY’S MOST LUXE RACE MARQUEE
Coming in at $30K for a butler and bottomless champagne, it’s possible Sydney’s most luxurious Cup celebration is nowhere near a racetrack.
The most luxurious marquee in Sydney this racing carnival just might be the Manly Pacific Hotel, which has created its own Birdcage Package for the Melbourne Cup and Big Dance that cost $30,000 in total.
The hotel, which was renovated last year at a cost of $30 million, has opened up it’s Infinity Residence for the racing season.
The package includes two night stay in the room, which can take up to 20 guests at the suite’s private terrace which overlooks Manly Beach.
The Birdcage also includes access to a beach butler, who will wait on staff during the race day and pour bottomless bottles of Louis Roederer Vintage Champagne, which retails at $150 a bottle, alongside caviar bumps and a menu from Chef Ryan Dawson from Bistro Manly.
While guests shouldn’t need to leave the hotel, it doesn’t mean they can’t get dressed up.
A stylist and makeup artist is also provided on the morning of the race to provide a glamorous looks for guests.
A racing enthusiast has also been provided to help punters pick a winner on the day.
For privacy reasons, the hotel would not disclose who have rented out the residence for the big day.
However General Manager Dylan Cole said there was a “substantial” level of interest in the event.
WHAT TIME IS THE BIG RACE?
The Melbourne Cup is race seven on the program, scheduled for 3pm AEDT.
If you’re not kicking up your heels at a venue, catch it on the box Channel 10, which has the rights to this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, with coverage of Cup Day from
10am AEDT.
Racing.com (digital Channel 78) also is able to broadcast the Cup live. Foxtel‘s Sky Racing is unable to carry the race live but will have it on delay, a few minutes after the event.
The race will also be streamed on 10 Play. Kayo Sports will also carry the Racing.com coverage.
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