Melbourne Cup dampener as Tabcorp CEO’s car stolen on race day morning

Tabcorp chief executive Gillon McLachlan takes a phone call at the track. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Normally it takes a horror run of favourites winning races to wipe the smile off a bookies face. But Tabcorp’s Gil McLachlan has an extra special reason to be glum on Tuesday, given Margin Call hears McLachlan’s car was stolen on Tuesday morning ahead of the big race.

If the race that stops a nation is one of Melbourne’s icons, then its crime rate is rapidly emerging as another.

Details are thin on the ground, and Tabcorp’s flacks weren’t talking, so it’s not clear whether the car was stolen from his home or after being left at the office.

But no doubt a traumatic event for the Tabcorp boss’ family – certainly enough to spoil anyone’s day, particularly when you’ve got to spend the rest of it making nice to customers and the rest of the Melbourne Cup glitterati.

But the show rolls on, with the Tabcorp marquee hosting notables including former footballer Robert “Dipper” DiPierdomenico, fund manager Jun Bei Liu, and the ever-present David Gallop.

Margin Call at The Melbourne Cup

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Still, the races might be the time to think about a replacement car, given Lexus is the major sponsor. That’s where Julie Bishop and partner Stephen Gray were holding court, with Myers boss Olivia Wirth also an expected guest.

Over at Crown David Tsai clearly takes his hosting responsibilities seriously, swapping door duty with Melbourne Crown boss Ed Domingo to welcome the casino group’s guests in the morning.

Julie Bishop and partner Stephen Gray in the Lexus Marquee. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

New Lion Australia chief executive Anubha Sahasrabuddhe made her first appearance at the beer company’s Melbourne Cup marquee, along with brand new CFO Severine Yerriah.

Which hosted big celebrations after the big race given the winner, Half yours, is part-owned by Victorian Hotels Association president David Canny – who put Sahasrabuddhe and most of the rest of the marquee in the way of a $8.50 winner on the day.

Also hosted at Lion’s Kirin marquee was Brisbane Lions CEO Sam Graham, and Lark Distilling boss Stu Gregor.

AHA national president David Basheer, Lion chief executive Anubha Sahasrabuddhe and QHA president and publican Richard Deery. Picture: Arsineh Houspian.

If there’s any industry that’s got a good reason to celebrate these days it’s Australia’s gold sector, and plenty of fun was being had in ABC Bullion’s marquee at the back of the Birdcage.

It is ABC that makes the $200,000 cup for Australia’s big race, and this year’s marquee hosted ABC executives, a smattering of stockbrokers and assorted hangers on, and interstate blow-ins Eddie Rigg and Liam Twigger from Perth broking house Argonaut, which itself booked record profits from the recent gold boom.

Will Haywood and Victoria Burns. Picture: Getty Images

Sadly for all, the on-course bookies weren’t taking gold scraps or junior mining scrip from punters, just cash. And, while most of the Birdcage spent a fair bit of Cup Day glued to their betting apps, it was good to see a few big names holding to traditional betting forms, including Yarra Capital’s Dion Hershan, spotted queuing up to put a bet on in the bookies corner.

Superbowl-winning NFL player Earl Thomas III. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Elsewhere, Citi managing director Katrina Efthim was also holding up the banking community at the races, with husband Robert Irlicht.

Up in the Mounting Yard, a quick burst of pre-race rain sent owners running for cover. And we couldn’t fail to notice that McLachlan had by then taken up a front row position in the VRC’s main vantage point – crucially, a dry one – just above.

We also spotted Tabcorp director David Gallop up there, while down below Tom Waterhouse, former bookie turned gambling investor, had grabbed a prime position just under the awning.

We couldn’t fail to notice the generally chivalrous Tom W had left wife Hoda and mother Gai Waterhouse – the champion trainer! – out in the rain. Thankfully, the weather eased off just in time for the big race.

Liam Twigger from Argonaut Securities with his partner. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Tony Guoga aka Tony G, the $300m crypto magnate and former poker player who owned 10 per cent of the winner Half Yours, admitted to pre-race nerves when we spoke to him. But the Soviet emigree shouted “what a great country!” when his horse won.

Also milling around was Darren Thomas, of the billionaire family behind Thomas Foods International, who was also part of the winning connections, and radio magnate Craig Hutchison.

Poker champion and crypto evangelist Tony Guoga with his daughter. Picture: John Stensholt

Connections of Half Yours celebrate after the win. Picture: Getty Images

A part-owner of Further, Hutchy had optimistically taken up a position in front of where the winning horse usually arrives, but sadly it finished 11th. We also saw renowned owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir (who watched the race on his phone), both who were in Buckaroo.

VRC CEO Kylie Rogers and Racing Victoria boss Aaron Morrison were among the plethora of racing types mingling in the mounting yarn post race.

We presume they got to drive home (the sober ones at least), unlike McLachlan.

With additional reporting from Eli Greenblat.