Famous faces at 2023 Kennedy Oaks Day at Flemington
Celebrities packed out the Birdcage and punters soaked up the sun at Flemington on Kennedy Oaks Day.
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Crowds flocked to Kennedy Oaks Day at Flemington for another spectacular race day in the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Here’s all colour, fashion and famous faces from the Birdcage and more.
Melissa Leong says co-hosting a new SBS show about hospital workers gave her new respect for her mother’s sacrifices.
“My mother has been in the hospital industry for many years, since she was 17 at nursing school, and now she’s in her mid-60s. She was a registered nurse, and a nursing manager in the emergency department,” Leong said at Oaks Day at Flemington.
Leong will co-host The Hospital: In The Deep End, which follows frontline workers.
“For me to walk in my mother’s shoes, to know what she did to sacrifice for my livelihood … it’s deeply humbling. My mother was always a hard worker, and she sacrificed a lot for our family. That sacrifice is never lost on me.”
Leong is also a judge on Channel 10’s MasterChef spin-off, Dessert Masters.
She was also a Lexus ambassador in the brand’s marquee at Flemington.
Asked what she remembers about life before fame, she said: “I looked at the first photos from my first show (The Chefs’ Line) with SBS in 2016. I look at that girl, which was only a couple of years ago, and I feel like a completely different person.
“The possibilities are exciting when you somewhat relinquish control to fame, and listen to the universe a little bit. I know that might sound woo-woo, but it’s about following cues.”
‘Nice to have Geoff in my world’
Bree Laughlin stepped out with partner, former golf star Geoff Ogilvy, after claiming third place in the prestigious Lillian Frank Millinery Award.
“A sash is a sash, we’re very proud,” Laughlin said.
“It’s nice to have Geoff in my world instead of me following him around a golf course,” she added.
Ogilvy has his Sandbelt Invitational starting on December 11.
“I’m looking forward to the Summer of golf,” he said.
‘We just loved it’
The nieces of the late Diana, the Princess of Wales, vowed to return to Flemington saying they had been blown away by the magic of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Dripping in jewels from the House of Emmanuel, the twins were having their own princess moment inside The Birdcage.
Judging the Fashions on the Field Best Dressed and Best Suited finales on Thursday, the model sisters said the creativity and originality shown in the long-running competition had blown them away.
Looking regal in white and with a touch of the tiara in their headwear, Lady Eliza (in couture king Toni Maticevski) and Lady Amelia (again wearing red carpet royal Cappellazzo Couture) said they were proud to be showcasing the best of our Australian designers.
“We have loved how each day is so different and playing around with the different millinery and accessories, we have just loved it,” lady Amelia said.
The sisters, who are huge MasterChef fans, asked to meet Melissa Leong and the trio caught up in the Lexus marquee.
The sisters have also been enjoying their time out and about in Melbourne, having dinner at the Beverly Rooftop in South Yarra. They dined with host Ljubo Milicevic at the venue on Wednesday night.
McMullen spills on his big race
The Amazing Race finalist Darren McMullen said doing the show was the “hardest thing” he’d ever done.
“The hardest but most rewarding,” he said.
“Getting to do it with my nephew Tristan was fantastic for our relationship and family bonding. I’ve got an appreciation for how hard some of the cultures in the world do it.“
McMullen did the ‘tap tap’ moment at G.H. Mumm on Thursday with a stylish crowd watching on. They included Josh Daicos and Annalise Dalins, Olivia Rogers, Tegan Martin, Bridgett Roccisano and Josh Gibson.
Stephenson reveals gritty side of AFL
Kangaroos star Jaidyn Stephenson has opened up about the brutal “business” of AFL trade season.
“I’ve been through the brutal side,” Stephenson said at Oaks Day at Flemington.
“I got the tap on the shoulder at the start of trade period, and (told): ‘You’re getting traded.’ It certainly can be brutal, but it’s part of the game.
“You look at the American sports; they (trade) in season, and after games,” he added. “We get it pretty good (because) they only (do trades) at the start of the year.”
Stephenson and his girlfriend, model Emily Vincent, were guests in the Schweppes marquee.
Stephenson was drafted by Collingwood in 2017, and traded to North Melbourne three year later.
“You’ve got to understand the AFL is a business,” he said. “You’re not just out there playing footy for fun anymore.
“The AFL is a business, and they’ve got to make money, however that may be. Trades are business decisions. You’ve just got to take it as it is.”
Stephenson said the club is looking forward to rebuilding with coach Alastair Clarkson.
“It was a tough (2023) for us all, and there were a lot of distractions. If we get a full year with Clarko taking the reins, we’re certainly going to be a better team.”
Stephenson added: “(Clarkson) knows what it means to win. He’s done it a lot in his career. A lot of the boys at our club haven’t had wins or success.
“If he can bring that winning mindset and ability to our club, it would be awesome.”
Brown gets more appropriate
Campbell Brown said he went back to being conservative after wearing shorts on Cup Day.
The former footy star donned a suit and tie for Oaks Day and was surprised by the response to his choice of outfit.
“I’ve gone with more appropriate attire today,” he said.
“It caused a bit of a stir but I was comfortable on the day.”
Brown wore shorts, a shirt and a jacket to beat the heat on Tuesday.
“I’m well down for the carnival so need to get a few winners back today,” he said.
“If Ashrun had have run third instead of 4th (in the Cup) it would have helped.”
Brown was working for SEN Track and then getting a helicopter out of Flemington — in true style.
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