It was an Auckland afternoon of shining thoroughbreds, dazzling dresses and regularly refilled glasses - all centred around a three-minute horse race in Melbourne.
At Ellerslie Racecourse yesterday, the horse-racing enthusiasts clutching their pencils and race guides rubbed shoulders with the immaculately clad more interested in the fascinators, beer andchampagne.
It was a warm afternoon in the Super City, with plenty of sun breaking through the heavy cloud cover.
The well-fuelled crowd of more than 3500 started the festivities early and whether on the front lawns, in the stands, or in the white hospitality tents, were all making the most of their Tuesday afternoon off.
Aerial performers and a DJ kept them entertained between the 10 races, but of course everything was building up to the Melbourne Cup at 5pm.
So when Kiwi-bred Prince of Penzance won, ridden by Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, spirits only lifted further.
Not that many people had picked the winner. Finance brokers Adrian Lee and Graeme Derry were having a good day out, but like many had failed to pick Prince of Penzance.
"An outside small horse - who would have thought? But amazing," Mr Lee said. He had picked Max Dynamite, which came in second, and so had had some nervous moments.
Agustina Ellis, Mark Wallbank and Nikki Willis. Photo / Greg Bowker
Lana Kogan. Photo / Greg Bowker
Victoria Coombes and Steven Luatua. Photo / Greg Bowker
Aucklander Shane Crawford and his fiancee, Gina Lindsay, did not have much luck either with their Cup bets, but enjoyed the day all the same. "I won't be giving up my day job," Mr Crawford said.
"But it's been great weather, friendly people, there's been great racing here and of course my darling looking as beautiful as she does."
Mr Crawford had been to six Melbourne Cups live and said when not at Flemington he was at Ellerslie.
The Ellerslie Melbourne Cup Day event is one of the biggest thoroughbred fixtures on the pre-Christmas racing calender in Auckland.
Australian racing historian Andrew Lemon and his wife, Judy, were there - only the second time since 1969 he had missed seeing the Cup live.
The couple are on their way home to Melbourne from Canada. "We're just passing through Auckland today, so I've dragged my wife out to the races," Mr Lemon said. "Just to see what New Zealanders make of the Melbourne Cup day and experience."
He said it was "such a huge party" back home, but he was enjoying the different atmosphere in Auckland.
"You can move here," he said with a laugh. "You can't move at Flemington on Cup day."
Stylish pair wear it well for the Ellerslie judges
Winners of Fashion in the Field at Ellerslie races. Photo / Greg Bowker
A regular feature of Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie Racecourse is the much-anticipated style awards, and this year two generations of fashionista came out on top.
The judges went tent to tent, tapping the shoulder of those who stood out the most.
One of the judges, TVNZ presenter Renee Wright, said the two winners, race event veteran Di Goldsworthy and first-time attendee Mathew Wang (pictured) "just nailed it".
"The standard is really high and the ones we chose really stood out," she said. "They managed to not only look good, but they wore it well - they seem to know their own style."
Viva beauty editor Janetta Mackay was also a judge.
Ms Goldsworthy said she first started coming to Ellerslie with her grandmother about 67 years ago. The 72-year-old from Remuera said the fashion she saw around the racecourse was "exciting".
"What really thrills me is to see the young people coming to racing and dressing up."
She has been involved in organising and running social events at the Ellerslie Racecourse for many years, but yesterday found herself on the winner's stage.
"Of course with young men like this," she said, pointing to her fellow winner Mr Wang, "the ladies want to be here."
Mr Wang, who lives on the North Shore, said he was very surprised when he was tapped on the shoulder and told that the judges liked how he was dressed.
The 29-year-old works for ASB and it was his first time at the races.
He said the event had so far been "amazing" and that he would definitely be returning to the track.
