Glamour on and off the racetrack

Julie Barbour (R), winner of the Viva Fashions in the Field Supreme Award, is congratulated by Men's Racewear winner, Geoffrey Reaton. Photo / Sarah ivey

Auckland's best-dressed and horse racing's elite poured into Ellerslie racecourse in their tens of thousands for the 155th Boxing Day Races for a drink, a wager and the thrill of the races.

The rain stayed away for the beginning of the New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, ensuring demand for cold beer but also leaving a few racegoers lobster-coloured by the end of the day.

Auckland Racing Club chief executive Chris Weaver said the event was "up there with the biggest" in the 30 years he had been attending.

"The only problem is the queues for the drinks are quite long, but that's a happy problem," he said.

Racegoers drank about 60,000 glasses of bubbly and 80,000 beers.

Mr Weaver remained upbeat despite his glamour horse Burgundy - bought for $1.3 million - placing third in the second-biggest race of the day.

The $200,000 feature race, the Zabeel Classic, was won by Taranaki horse Shez Sensational, paying $3.60 as second favourite.

Shez Sensational's trainer, Allan Sharrock, said: "I was lucky to get her ... She's a gorgeous mare ... Her name's Sensational and she really is."

One elderly horse owner had a mixed day, requiring stitches after a fall. Minutes later, her horse Cool Storm won the Newmarket Handicap.

"Racing can often have a twist of fate," said Auckland Racing Club director Brent Cooper. "Let's hope her ambulance had racing commentary."

New Zealand's Next Top Model judge Colin Mathura-Jeffries said racegoers' fashion sense was improving.

"We're a nation obsessed with all black. This is the only event where New Zealanders come in all colours, and that's fantastic."

Not everyone was there for the horses and champagne, and the infield crowd a stark contrast to the fascinator-wearing punters on the lawns. Barefooted youngsters played beach cricket and swam at an artificial beach.

The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival continues tomorrow and ends on New Year's Day.

JUDGES PUT WINNER FIVE PLACES HIGHER THAN EXPECTED

Pipped at the final stage last year, Julie Barbour returned to the Boxing Day races to claim New Zealand's top raceday fashion prize.

The 25-year-old Hamiltonian claimed the Viva Fashions in the Field supreme award, valued at more than $5000.

More than 120 contestants were seeking the award at Ellerslie Racecourse yesterday.

Ms Barbour refused to believe she had won her Canvas Ladies Racewear category at first, standing blank-faced for a full five seconds before gasping with delight.

"I had picked the top five winners in my head, and I wasn't one of them," she said.

Ms Barbour, owner of fashion boutique Sisters on London, wore an altered knee-length Trelise Cooper dress, a Natalie Chan fascinator and gloves, and Kathryn Wilson shoes - an outfit which cost about $800.

But head judge Claire Hahn said price or designer label were not factors in the competition, and Ms Barbour won because she had a "totally co-ordinated look ... right down to the nail polish".

"She made it easy for the judges - it was a unanimous decision."

Ms Barbour's father, Howard, said his daughter had saved the day because he had lost his money in every race he had bet on.

"We're on to the real winner here."

Last year's winner, Meg Wilson, 23, reached the semifinals.

Winner of a Mercedes-Benz C200 for three months last year, she said she was hoping to take top spot this year "because I'm back to driving my crummy station wagon".

The men's category winner, Geoffrey Renton, had a completely different approach to his racewear, describing his three-piece suit as having "a low carbon footprint".

He wore his great-grandfather's jacket, his mother's fascinator and a range of second-hand pieces.

So was he disappointed not to take the supreme award? "Nah, ladies always win."