RACEGOERS didn’t let Tuesday’s cold weather or high winds stop them from having a great time at Mildura’s Melbourne Cup day event.
Locals and visitors were dressed to impress as they enjoyed the trackside action in Mildura, where temperatures peaked at 15 degrees.
Wind speed reached 35 km/h at 3.30pm, but many braved the cold to enjoy their day out.
A few familiar faces appeared on the day including Will Simpson, also known as “Farmer Will”, and his partner Jess Cova from Farmer Wants a Wife, and 2016 Australian Olympian Koti Ngawati.
Farmer Will actually lent a hand, helping judge the Fashions on the Fields event.
The reality TV star had previously judged the fashion at the Manangatang races, but said Mildura was a bit more “formal”.
Speaking to the crowd that had gathered to see what amazing outfits entrants were wearing, Will said it had been a chaotic year for him and he was glad to finally be out and about with Jess.
“She is stunning,” he said. “I don’t know why she didn’t enter (Fashions on the Field), I would’ve given her full votes. But maybe it would’ve been a bit rigged.”
Eliza Icke of Minimay, Victoria took him the top prize for Lady of the Day, Jamie Bruggemann of Adelaide took home Most Fashionable and Chantall O’Dell of Wentworth earned Best Millenary Award.
Ms Icke, who also placed third in Most Fashionable, was wearing a floral Zimmerman dress with custom made millenary to match.
“I’m very very lucky,” she said about her first and third placings.
“I came to enjoy the cup and get out of Melbourne and spend time in the country with the lovely people of Mildura.”
Sandy Young was awarded the Most Fashionable Man, visiting from Melbourne for the event.
“We thought we’d get away for a country race weekend for the cup,” he said.
“There are not many races that run on Melbourne Cup day in the country so we thought it was a great opportunity.”
Liliana Telaroli was awarded the Most Fashionable Youth and mum Siobhan said her daughter was “super excited” to enter into the competition and had picked the bright purple colour she dressed in.
“We found it hard to find a purple head piece, so we had some spare flowers and made one,” she said.
Liliana said she really liked winning the award.
