Melbourne Cup: The Sporting Globe, Bayswater Hotel, all the racing action
It’s been a hell of a wait, but finally Melbourne racing fans were able to hit the pubs and backyard barbies to celebrate the race the stops — and restarts — a nation.
Outer East
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Pubs were packed — in the Covid-safe sense — and backyard barbies were cranked up as Melburnians came together to celebrate the Melbourne Cup.
Groups of friends flocked to the balmy rooftop at The Sporting Globe in Knox’s popular Ozone precinct.
Bayswater mates Brendan, Jake and Jordan were loving being back on the beers after another long Melbourne lockdown.
Jordan hoped Damien Oliver could lead Delphi to victory in the big race, saying he loved the colours of the veteran jockey’s silks.
In the outer east, racing fans were stoked to be back at the pub and enjoying Cup Day at the Bayswater Hotel.
Kilsyth South’s Luke Phillips gathered with 20 mates and said he was hoping Twilight Payment could go back-to-back in the big race.
“He’s better rated this year than last year … and there’s less international horses this year,” he said.
“We didn’t think we’d get here and we’d be just watching at a mate’s house, being out at the pub is really good.”
Friend Connor Sticht was backing Grand Promonade on “good recent form”.
Bayswater’s Cody Maxwell said he was estatic to be back celebrating with friends at his local pub.
“I’ve missed coming here, we used to come here every Sunday, so I’m very relieved (restrictions have lifted),” he said.
“It’s fantastic to be out with mates again.”
For the Puddy family of Montrose, it was a chance to enjoy the family sweep in person and to catch up on lost get-togethers.
“It’s bloody fantastic, I’m loving it,’’ Maureen Puddy said.
Her daughter-in-law Bronwyn Puddy said a special day called for French champagne.
“It’s surreal, it’s so chilled out and you don’t have to worry about if we are doing the right or wrong thing,’’ she said.
For Tahlia Puddy, 14, the Melbourne Cup was also a chance to catch-up with family members
“It’s great to see my cousins and talk to them without having to look through the screen,’’
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