Bec Judd stuns in soggy Cox Plate debut

Bec Judd defied the grim weather in a brilliant white dress as she made her Moonee Valley debut to cheer one of the horses she part owns.

Josh Gibson and Grace Hayden at the 2022 Cox Plate. Picture: Supplied

Melbourne power couple Chris and Bec Judd are winners again.

The couple added some celebrity style to a soggy Moonee Valley for the time-honoured Cox Plate on Saturday.

Bec, making her first appearance at The Valley, defied the grim weather on race morning, heading to the track in a spring-like white frock featuring a fun silver star print.

Chris, meanwhile, was cheering as the Annabel Neasham trained My Oberon, a horse he part-owns, won the Crystal Mile at his first start in Australia.

“Hopefully (we’ll) set it for a bigger race later in the carnival,” he said.

Chris and Rebecca Judd at the 2022 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Picture: Supplied

The Judds have shares in several racehorses. Tycoon Bec, named after Bec, ran third at Geelong during the week, pleasing connections.

Former jockey Robbie Dolan, got a tick of approval from the big crowd for his polished performance of The Horses prior to the running of the Cox Plate.

Dolan took the place of Daryl Braithwaite who usually performs the song known as the The Valley ‘anthem’.

Alex Kiroi-Bogatyreva and Grace Hayden. Picture: Supplied

Former footballer Warwick Capper was happy to do selfies with racegoers. Picture: Supplied

Kylie and Jonathan Brown. Picture: Supplied

Campbell Brown and Mark Hinkley. Picture: Supplied

Matthew and Kellie Hayden. Picture: Supplied

Gerry and Val Ryan with Eddie McGuire. Picture: Supplied

Rather than being at Moonee Valley Braithwaite was booked for a festival show in Coffs Harbour.

“Riding horses has always been my passion since I was a little kid, it definitely takes the cake, but I haven’t experienced singing Horses in front of this many people,” Dolan said.

Channel 7 presenter Grace Hayden was at the track with her parents, Kellie and, former cricketer, Matthew Hayden.

Grace said she was relieved to see her father in a suit.

“I was worried it was going to be a fishing shirt today,” she quipped.

Fresh from revealing on Friday that his Nova FM breakfast show team would be disbanding at the end of the year, Jonathan Brown was relaxing and enjoying the races with his wife Kylie.

Other well-known names at the Cox Plate included Jessie Roberts, Farmer Wants A Wife couple Will Simpson and Jess Cova, Eddie McGuire, Gerry and Val Ryan, and Campbell Brown.