Royal Randwick crowds, celebrity parties, sold out Sydney venues for Melbourne Cup
Tens of thousands of people will flock to Royal Randwick while celebrities are gearing up for lavish events as Sydney goes all out for Melbourne Cup day.
NSW
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Royal Randwick is set for a bumper Melbourne Cup day today with 7000 extra $69 tickets on sale following a relaxation of Covid restrictions.
“With up to 17,000 people making their way to Royal Randwick today, you could say that in 2021 Royal Randwick carries the mantle as the number one venue for enjoying this year’s Melbourne Cup,” NSW Racing Minister Kevin Anderson said.
Covid restrictions mean that the crowd at Flemington will be restricted to just 10,000 for the race that stops the nation. But as NSW opens up and people embrace Mr Anderson’s suggestion of the day being an “unofficial public holiday” it looks certain to give the economy a major boost.
“While it is one thing to welcome increased crowds at Randwick, the real winners today are our regional communities who can now travel to Sydney for the first time since the lockdown,” Mr Anderson said.
“Regional owners who have been having to watch their horses compete from a distance can now attend Royal Randwick live and in person.”
Retired school principal Greg Danckert and wife Lynda are planning to drive into Sydney from Deniliquin to watch their horse Too Much Caviar run in the last race at Randwick.
“I love Sydney and I am looking forward to a great day out,” Mr Danckert said. “I love a day at the races, the atmosphere and the people you meet. It will be great to be back.”
Corporate boxes are expected to be packed with former NRL chief and now Tabcorp Director David Gallop hosting guests along with Clubs NSW chief executive John Landis.
Keen racegoers foreign minister Marise Payne and NSW tourism minister Stuart Ayres have been fixtures at the Melbourne Cup but last year attended the day at Royal Randwick and may be there again today.
Candice Warner has spent previous years trackside at the Lexus Melbourne Cup enjoying the hospitality in the famed celebrity-filled Birdcage enclosure, which will have a much smaller galaxy of stars today.
Warner will instead be watching the race from the comfort of her own home in Coogee, although she will still be dressing up.
“I will definitely dress up, that is what makes it so special and so much fun,” Warner said. “I think everyone is looking forward to dressing up, having a few champagne’s and cheering on their favourite horse. Some people with the year that we’ve had may not feel comfortable going out to crowded places so to be able to be home in a Covid-safe environment is really lovely.”
Warner’s cricket star husband, David, will be watching the race from Dubai, where he is competing in the Indian Premier League.
“The kids will be at school but their dad has said pick a horse, pick a number and he will put a small bet on for them so they are really excited about it,” Warner said. “That is how we will get the kids involved. The thing about the Lexus Melbourne Cup is it just brings so much joy to the nation.”
Elsewhere in Sydney, top eateries across town are booked out with Matt Moran’s Aria charging $250 for a four course champagne lunch.
Kate Waterhouse will be hosting a small group of friends for lunch at Crown Sydney’s Silk restaurant. Her guests are expected to include Jess Pecoraro, Jonny Ingham and Michael Brown.
Clubs right across NSW will be hosting events for the Cup with many already sold out including Panthers Penrith, Mosman Club, Menangle Country Club, Batemans Bay Soldiers Club and Broken Hill Musicians Club.
Mosman Club chief executive Gerard Boyle said the club had sold its Covid capacity of 150 tickets for the event and ordered in 130 bottles of champagne.
“We have been blown away by the patronage since reopening, and Cup Day is shaping up to be the same,” he said.
“Tickets sold out for our Fernery Melbourne Cup rooftop luncheon within one week of going on sale, but we will be accepting walk-ins at our Sports Bar downstairs all day — there’s a seven-metre mega screen and TAB facilities set up in there, ready to go!”
Club Menangle general manager Steven Moore said 600 tickets have been sold to its Melbourne Cup events.
“One of our Melbourne Cup luncheons is already sold out, people can’t wait to get out and celebrate together once again. A portion of our ticket sales are being donated to a local charity for kids, so it’s nice to be able to get together for a good cause, too,” he said.
And Wenty Leagues chief executive Glenn Kovacs said: “It’s the race that stops the nation and I’m so glad the Club can be open to show it. Our members are looking forward to having a bit of fun, enjoying the race and seeing people we haven’t in a while.”
Most people will be entering a sweep of having a punt on the big race with the TAB revealing the most successful punters in NSW last year came from Port Macquarie and Lake Haven.
The TAB’s Brad Bishop said this year one horse was attracting most of the money. “Incentivise has a stranglehold on favouritism in this year’s Melbourne Cup,” he said.
“Just who starts second favourite might be up for grabs with the gap narrowing between Spanish Mission and Twilight Payment, while Verry Elleegant and Tralee Rose have also been popular and there is no doubt about the best-backed roughie with Delphi now $19 after $51 was available with TAB.”
Sportsbet’s Simon Legg said it was going to be a big day everywhere. “While the bulk of the interest tomorrow is understandably on the Melbourne Cup, there’s still going to be plenty of eyes elsewhere, with meetings at Randwick, Morphettville and Eagle Farm just to name a few.
“It’s been a tough year for Australians but with crowds back, we’re looking forward to a great day of racing across the entire nation,” he said.
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