Fashion and thoroughbreds combined for a super afternoon at Wyong Race Club on Sunday, August 18, the opening day of the Carlton United Breweries Cup Carnival.
The ever-popular Star 104.5 Ladies Day signified the start of the newly formatted three-day carnival, with plenty of glitz and glamour on show in The Pavilion.
A large crowd was trackside enjoying the competitive eight race program from the club’s multiple function areas, including the public lounge and lawn.
Local trainers dominated the day with Damien Lane, Kim Waugh, Wayne Seelin and Rodney Bailey all saddling up winners.
In one of the most successful meetings for Wyong trainers in recent times, Damien Lane opened the winning account with Oakfield Blue Bell in the Carlton Wyong Cup Carnival Provincial Maiden over 1600m.
Rodney Bailey’s Let’s Go Johnny made it a race to race double for the locals, when he took out the 2024 Wyong Leading Trainer Kim Waugh 1600m Class 1.
Sapphire Kiss, trained by Wayne Seelin, caused an upset beating the more fancied runners in the Wyong Race Club Trainers Premiership Winner Peter And Paul Snowden 4YO & Up Maiden over 1100m.
It was then the turn of leading trainer Kim Waugh, who claimed the 1350m 2024 WRC Jockeys Premiership Winner and Leading Apprentice Jockey Zac Lloyd Midway BM64 with Foolish.
It was a big day for Waugh who was presented with her trophy for her eighth successive Wyong Trainers Premiership.
Hawkesbury visitor Brad Widdup was successful in the inaugural running of the Star 104.5 Wyong Cup Prelude.
The 2000m race carried a $60,000 purse, with the winner Gazumped now exempt for the ballot for the $250,000 Listed Wyong Leagues Group Cup on Friday, September 6.
The second feature, the 1200m $60,000 Domeland Mona Lisa Prelude was taken out by the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained Pajanti.
The four-year-old mare is exempt from the ballot for the $200,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes on Sunday, September 1.
Australia’s leading jockey James McDonald left the track with the perfect record, one win from his only ride, piloting Lilac to victory in the Lizzie Jelfs Punters Club 3YO Maiden for leading Sydney stable Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald.
Fashion was the theme both on and off the track.
The horse fashions were a beautiful spectacle with impeccably dressed handlers parading their immaculately groomed horses in front of judge, Sky Racing’s Melinda Turner.
Melissa Oven was the winner, both horse and handler a standout.
Attention then moved to the Ladies Day marquee, where guests enjoyed a fun afternoon of fashion, colourful entertainment and fine food.
Vibrant Concepts Sam and Jordi Woods co-hosted the afternoon with Channel 7 form analyst Lizzie Jelfs.
The Ladies Day theme continued across all functions areas with Lizzie hosting a Punters Club, NSW Racehorse Owners Association secretary Julieanne Horseman assisting with presentations and Leonie Ferreira, Racing NSW’s General Manager of Marketing, a guest on the day.
Funds from the Ladies Day function went to local charity the Iris Foundation with executive officer Sue Liptrott and Because We Care Boutique’s Sharyn Becker on hand to accept the donations.
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