Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan spotted enjoying the Melbourne Cup inside the Birdcage

Jacinta Allan has lapped up all the frivolity, fun and form the Birdcage has to offer, a far cry from the days of former premier Dan Andrews, who said nup to the Cup for years.

Was that a Victorian Premier enjoying the Melbourne Cup festivities inside the Birdcage?

Forgive our surprise, but it’s been almost a decade since the leader of our state has attended what is arguably our most prestigious major Melbourne event.

But there was Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan enjoying all the frivolity, fun and form Flemington’s famed Birdcage has to offer. Having a champers and watching the races from the VIP third floor inside the Crown marquee on what’s dubbed “millionaires row,” Allan was clearly enjoying herself.

The Premier clearly enjoyed herself at the Cup. Picture: Jason Edwards,

She arrived with Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos. Picture: Jason Edwards,

Known to love racing, her department people all stopped to watch the Bendigo Cup, her hometown after all, on television last week.

Allan we are told was like most punters and didn’t back a winner in the race that stops the nation.

She arrived into the gaming giant’s party and punting marquee with Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos and was seen hobnobbing on the VIP-only top floor with former Victorian Attorney-General turned Australian Grand Prix chair Martin Pakula – who we hear might have helped Elizabeth Hurley back a winner earlier in the day in the chairman’s lounge.

The Premier is a racing fan. Picture: Jason Edwards.

It’s been almost a decade since the leader of our state has attended what is arguably our most prestigious major Melbourne event. Picture: Jason Edwards.

Also in the group was former tennis star and rising star of the Liberal Party Sam Groth, along with heavy hitter sports entertainment media CEO Craig Hutchison and his lovely partner Clare Hazell Wright.

Allan’s attendance is a far cry from the days of former premier Dan Andrews, who had said nup to the Cup since about 2015.

Andrews did memorably abolish public drunkenness as an offence in Victoria starting on Melbourne Cup Day in 2022.

But why he didn’t attend? We are told Andrews just didn’t like major events all that much, although he never minded a golfing moment and did pop up at the Australian Open.

But his lack of appearances dipped after his draconian Covid lockdown rules sent the state half mad, with fears for his safety in public.

But bottoms up to Allan and hopefully next time we can all back a winner.

A grand place to mend broken hearts

Back in the day South Yarra’s The Olsen was dubbed the “heartbreak hotel,” given all the footy types who would camp there after their marriage bust-ups.

Billy Brownless spent some time there after his split with former wife Nicky, as did James Brayshaw.

Craig Hutchison had not married, but had sweeping views of the city from his two-bedroom bachelor pad at the premier accommodation on Chapel St.

Hutchy was famous for never having used the kitchen because why use the oven when you can just call room service?

They have all moved on from the hotel and into other relationships, but a new gen of jocks and sportos have made the Capitol Grand the new heartbreak hotel, or bachelor bolt-hole, however you want to describe it.

Campbell Brown now calls the Capitol Grand home after splitting with his wife Jess. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

It's been described as the new heartbreak hotel.

The impressive hotel was developed by richlister Larry Kestelman, the former Dodo founder and owner of the Australian National Basketball League, who holds the prime penthouse apartment, think the whole floor, with his wife and family.

Footy great Campbell Brown now resides at the twin tower behemoth on the corner of Toorak Rd and Chapel St after separating from his wife, Jess, late last year, as does former footballer Tom Sheridan. And when Thanasi Kokkinakis is not travelling the world, the tennis champ stays at his Capitol Grand bachelor quarters. Our eagle-eyed spies say Kokkinakis was seen having a deep and meaningful with more off-than-on-again girlfriend, influencer Hannah Dal Sasso on the Chapel St footpath just nearby late into the night after Melbourne Cup Day.

AFL star in spotlight again for poor behaviour

Which current AFL star didn’t see the last race at his hometown Cup meeting last week?

The player who has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons caught the eye of security at the Bendigo Cup with the poor behaviour.