"Perhaps punters will get behind the New Zealand horses. My personal favourite is Who Shot The Barman - owned by family.
"The atmosphere will be fantastic and I'm sure the betting will be a major part of the buzz of the day with the Calcutta and Sweepstake activities livening up the day."
At the event, as well as the traditional Melbourne sweepstakes, punters will partake in "posh nosh", Fashion in the Field, a Best Fascinator competition and live entertainment from local band Kokomo.
Guest speakers are world rowing champions Julia Edward and Sophie MacKenzie who are both representing New Zealand at the Rio Olympics next year.
Blair Cashmore will lead the bidding on a live auction with items up for grabs including a Classic Flyers flight; Volcanic Hills Winery evening experience for six; Somerset Cottage Cook School for up to six people; a Farmer Motor Group/Mondo Travel car, and a golf and accommodation weekend. All proceeds will go to local charities Tauranga St John Ambulance, Tauranga SPCA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The event will be MCed by The Hits Bay of Plenty radio host Will Johnston.
Fashion in the Field will be judged by Bernadette Rowlands, owner of High Street Boutique, and Natalie Bridges, director of Blink PR and former editor of Simply You and Simply Living magazines, and NZME magazines editor Annemarie Quill.
What to wear:
? True race wear is unique. It should be fashionable but feminine and elegant and, most importantly, it is daywear, not evening wear.
? If you'd wear it to an evening event and it's covered in bling it's most likely the wrong choice.
? The big days of racing call for hats, heels and handbags.
? Race wear can be fun, flirty and glamorous but it should still have an element of elegance.
? Don't forget to make the most of gorgeous matching accessories.
Source: trac.co.nz
