2019 Melbourne Cup: Inside the Birdcage marquees

It’s hard enough to get into the Birdcage at Flemington, but it’s even harder to score an invite into this marquee’s secret VIP room.

The Birdcage area at Flemington racecourse is exclusive enough as it is, but this year there’s an ultra-exclusive, secret room that only a handful of people will be lucky enough to experience.

The VIP room is hidden behind a gold door on the second floor of the Mumm marquee, which is themed as a luxury hotel.

After presenting their tickets to a Maison Mumm Hotel bellboy, the lucky few with invites will be granted access to the secret room where they will be seated at a dining table and served Mumm’s ultra-premium Prestige Cuvées that are reserved for friends and family of the house.

Model Tegan Martin entering the secret room inside the Mumm marquee. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Inside the secret room in the Mumm marquee.

They’ll also get a fancy meal from Merivale’s executive chef, Dan Hong, with dishes including choux puffs with lobster, lime, crème fraiche and caviar and a dessert based off Mumm’s RSRV Rose Fojuita Champagne served with mango and coconut vacherin.

THE BIRDCAGE AREA

The Maison Mumm Hotel is just one of the marquees inside the Birdcage, which sits trackside at Flemington and is roughly the size of 65 tennis courts.

A mix of big name stars from both Australia and overseas usually fill the Birdcage on race days, but things will be a tad more low-key this year with Megan Gale, Taylor Swift and American actor Lana Condor (from Netflix series To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) all pulling out of their scheduled appearances.

The Birdcage area. Picture Jay Town

Inside the Kennedy marquee. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

STANDOUT FEATURES

Most marquees have a few special features to make them stand out from the crowd. Here are some of the highlights from this year’s Birdcage.

• The Lexus marquee has the largest ever Birdcage restaurant, a 90-seat dining room where guests will enjoy a menu created by Matt Stone and Jo Barrett of Oakridge, the hatted restaurant in Victoria’s Yarra Valley.

Guests inside the Lexus marquee will also be treated to food from Neil Perry. Picture Jay Town

10,000 gumnuts have been used to decorate the second level of the Lexus marquee. Picture Jay Town

• Herald Sun House has the tallest outdoor sun deck in Birdcage history giving guests access to sweeping views across the course and the Flemington home straight.

• Those in the Chapter One marquee who are looking for a carby snack to help soak up the booze will be treated to Furphy glazed salted pretzels. (We tried one and they’re unreal!)

• And finally, guests inside the Mumm marquee who can’t be bothered to head to the bar can press a button to have a waitress immediately deliver a glass of champagne to them.

NewsCorp’s Dan Stock and Three Blue Ducks’ Mark Labrooy on the rooftop of Herald Sun House. Picture Jay Town

Everything in the Birdcage, such as The Birdbath Bar, is OTT. Picture Jay Town

Which marquee do you like the look of the most? Let us know in the comments section below.