Something different for the races

Kylie Bax

THERE will be two glamorous newcomers at the Poverty Bay Turf Club race meeting next month.

Supermodel Kylie Bax is coming to town to judge the Fashion in the Field competition and the “The Nation,” a unique state-of-the-art mobile function venue, also makes an eye-catching debut appearance.

Kylie’s credentials as the judge for such a fashion contest are impeccable. Not only is she the Face of Paula Ryan, gracing the pages of Vogue and Harper Bazaar magazines, but she also knows a thing or two about horses. She grew up at Blandford Lodge, a thoroughbred horse stud in the heart of the Waikato and runs her own racehorse syndication business, B.A.X. Ltd.

Fashion in the Field contestants can enter one of three categories and win substantial prizes: the Best Dressed Filly trots away with a $500 cash prize and a KOCO boutique voucher; the Best Dressed Stallion wins a $500 cash prize and a Colliers Menswear voucher; and the Best Dressed Couple will collect prizes of one night’s accommodation and breakfast at the Quality Hotel Emerald, a Michael Hill voucher and a restaurant voucher.

A lucky punter draw has a cash prize of $1000.

The other attention-grabber at the February 21 summer races is The Nation, the only mobile multi-function event centre in Australasia.

Custom-built by Hamilton’s Wade Group for Te Papa nine years ago, The Nation toured the country with the Treaty of Waitangi.

Co-owners Liz Pollock and vintner Paddy Borthwick bought it last year, converting it into a pop-up function venue.

It takes six hours to transform the 30-tonne 18-wheel Mitsubishi Fuso from a semi-trailer to an upmarket air-conditioned lounge with 220 square metres of floor space and an eight-metre bar.

There’s a limit of 300 people (R18) and ticketholders will enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly, continuous food, a cash bar and TAB facilities.

It will be known as Craig’s Champion Lounge on the day, Craigs Investment Partners having secured the naming rights.

The kids are not forgotten on race day. There’s a Funworks Entertainment Park with a Wild West play yard, Shark Attack slide, Stage Coach bounce-slide castle and an Iron Man Challenge.

Gate entry is free and free buses leave Shed 3 at 11am in ample time for the first race at 12.30pm, returning after the last race at 5.30pm.