Forget the imported aristocratic Spencer twins in their matchy, matchy red – lovely as they were – The Birdcage at Flemington on Tuesday was all about the billionaire heiress Pratt sisters.
While the masses flailed about in the heat on the lawn outside, Heloise Pratt and her rock star partner, Jon Stevens, along with her sister, Fiona Geminder,and packaging millionaire husband Raphael Geminder were relaxed and comfortable in the safe confines of the Birdcage bubble for the race that nowadays “distracts” rather than “stops” a nation.
Reserve Bank boss Michele Bullock provided the curtain raiser to the main race via her board’s brutal decision to raise the official cash rate to 4.35 per cent, not that many racegoers seemed too perturbed by that.
The Geminders, busy seeking to privatise the underperforming Pact Group, were guests of Lion Australia’s Furphy, where it was pollie central as the brewer’s Australian MD, David Smith, played host.
Furphy’s top level deck was dominated by the Nationals, including party leader David Littleproud and wife Amelia, and Victorian Senator Michael McCormack and his wife, Catherine.
From conservative Coalition partner the Liberals, Sussan Ley – who’s been ably acting as Opposition Leader while Peter Dutton has been in India – was deep in conversation with Tasmanian Liberal Member for Bass Bridget Archer.
Also along was Member for Page Kevin Hogan and upcoming backbencher Aaron Violi, representing the fine people of Casey.
Pratt and Stevens were trackside as guests of HWT chair Penny Fowler at Herald Sun House. Gina Rinehart was there in spirit too, represented on the day by her goddaughter, Marguerite Olivier.
The billionaire had given Olivier, who is an exec at Hancock and old mates with Gina’s youngest daughter, Ginia Rinehart, her invitation as a birthday gift.
Also at News Corp were VECCI’s Paul Guerra, News head of national sales Louise Barrett, investor James Calvert-Jones, Australian Industry Group chief Innes Willox and partner Jane Devereux – who did the rounds of most of the Birdcage marquees over the course of the day
BHP chair Ken MacKenzie was keeping a low profile as a guest in the underwater world of Penfolds, hosted by Treasury Wine Estates boss Tim Ford.
Endeavour chief Steve Donohue – fresh from his AGM battle last week with billionaire Bruce Mathieson – dropped in for a chat but was reluctant to be photographed in situ, while Bunnings chief Mike Schneider and wife Nicole took a more relaxed approach.
TWE director Toni Korsanos was boldly running a frock featuring a cut-out waist, while former NSW Liberal MP-turned-lobbyist and powerbroker Michael Photios had his daughter, Sophie Photios, who is an economist at Macquarie Bank, along for the fun.
Labor backbencher Daniel Repacholi was a guest of the wine house too, making his Cup debut as a member of parliament. He and wife Alex had driven down from the Hunter Valley on Saturday after dropping off their kids for the long weekend.
At TAB, NDIS Minister and Member for Maribyrnong (in which Flemington sits) Bill Shorten was there with wife Chloe, proving himself to be one of the few remaining Labor MPs who still know how to have fun. Speaker Milton Dick and sports minister Anika Wells were also in the house.
Tabcorp CEO Adam Rytenskild was overseeing proceedings, along with directors David Gallop, Janette Kendall (also on the boards at Vicinity and Costa, and the Melbourne footy club) and Brett Chenoweth, who might have preferred to be on a surfboard out the back given the weather conditions.
Former AFL chief Gillon McLachlan was a late show, while AHA chief executive Stephen Ferguson, fresh from his annual AHA luncheon in Melbourne’s botanic gardens, was also nearby. Doing the rounds as was Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp, Helloworld exec Peter Crinis and David Williams from Kidder Williams. We heard millionaire crypto and property millionaire Adrian Portelli was also floating about too.
At Crown, the crowd was immediately comfortable in the casino group’s new Birdcage position. Ireland-born CEO Ciaran Carruthers, who wore blue on the traditionally monochromatic Derby Day, was on Tuesday wearing dark grey and white pinstripe accessorised with a pint of Guinness.
The gaming chief had brought along wife Tess, who was stunning in a strapless Carla Zampattinumber, as well as his daughter, Siobhan, who has recently relocated to Melbourne for a role as a brand and marketing associate at Sayers.
Meanwhile, beyond the Birdcage bubble, tensions seemed higher.
Horseman Nick Williams, son of millionaire owner Lloyd Williams, was spied having a sneaky vape in the mounting yard, while Jayco billionaire and horseowner Gerry Ryan was nearby to watch Serpentine, which led early in the feature race.
Colourful US businessman Rich Ricci was pacing around nervously as part owner of race favourite Vauban, while former Westpac chair Lindsay Maxsted, and richlister and Regis Health Care founder Bryan Dorman stayed close to the horseflesh for most of the day.
Founder boss of Resimax Group Ozzie Khier and Liberal Party powerbroker and Sky News regular Michael Kroger were also spotted.
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