KEY POINTS:
Amid the clicking of cameras as Karaka horse breeder Lorraine Cookson cut a luminous figure beside her newly won Mercedes, husband Tony told the Herald: "You know, I really admire Lorraine. Because as glamorous as she might look now, she helps at home mucking out, picking up the horses' shit."
Mrs Cookson's self-designed ensemble saw her take home the $100,000 Mercedes Prix de Fashion prize package at Ellerslie on Saturday, the opening day of Auckland Cup Week.
While most of the drama took place on the race track, intense competition could also be observed off the field.
The fashion competition drew more than 100 participants and had the highest number of pre-registered entries received in its history - a sign contestants were taking frocking up mighty seriously.
In a sea of outfits spanning the spectrum of a rainbow, it was Mrs Cookson's grey ensemble that stood out for the judges.
The Cooksons, who race and breed horses from their lifestyle block at Karaka in South Auckland, are no strangers to race carnivals. Her win at the Matamata races the previous weekend had secured her automatic entry into Saturday's final.
"It's the one place you can dress up and wear a hat," said Mrs Cookson. "That's one of the crucial things - I love wearing hats. To me the hat just epitomises the outfit."
She professes a liking for grey - the colour fashionistas are dubbing this season's new black - and chose it after witnessing the trend on the catwalks of London.
The grey tweed jacket and beige silk satin skirt she designed herself was made in Hong Kong; Auckland milliner Dolly Varden made the hat. The bag, meanwhile, was a last-minute addition.
"I made it the night before. I couldn't find anything to match so I had to make up a bag."
The judging panel - designer Yvonne Bennetti, TV producer Carol Hirschfeld, socialite Gilda Kirkpatrick and stylist Robert Niwa - admitted that picking a winner was a tough decision.
"In the end it was about the detail," said Ms Bennetti.
"Up close the texture of the fabrics, the cut of the garment and the quality of the accessories created an unbeatable combination for us."
The Week's Highlights
Tomorrow
The heroes of the three codes parade through Broadway, Newmarket, to give the punters, lunchtime shoppers and local schoolchildren a chance to see the big names in racing. Also on show will be the SkyCity Auckland Cup, to be contested on Wednesday. Pack up the kids and head to Pukekohe for the first harness racing there in nearly 50 years. In 1958, the Franklin Cup was worth £600. It now has prize money of $50,000 and is raced at the Franklin Trotting Cup's usual home at Alexandra Park.
Racing at Pukekohe starts at 3pm, the last of the eight races is at 6.18pm. The feature race is the $12,000 Hewes Metals Gold Country Cup over 2600m. Young racegoers can enjoy Kidz Karts races, and there will be a jazz band for the oldies. A racegoers' bus leaves Alexandra Park at 1.30pm.
Wednesday
Aucklanders are expected to converge on Ellerslie for our version of "the race that stops the nation", the $700,000 SkyCity Auckland Cup. This is serious stuff. This is the one you don't dress up for, it's the one you watch, and the smart money is on King Singa. Run over 3200m, it was introduced in 1874, and the winner gets to take home the cup itself, an enormous piece of silverware matched only in vulgarity by the America's Cup. Other races today include the $50,000 Pak'n Save Ellerslie Oaks, and the $50,000 Westbury Classic.
Gates open at 10.30am, admission is $20, admission to the Ascot Stand is $50, the first race is at 12.40pm and the Auckland Cup will be run at 5.50pm.
Thursday
If you missed the greyhound racing on Sunday, you get another chance this evening. The meet starts at 5.50pm, with the enchantingly named Pacific Sheet and Coil Auckland Cup run at 9.08pm. Another attraction is the $15,000 Chillis Railway Sprint.
The venue is the Manukau Sports Bowl in Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau City. Admission is free, and there is plenty of parking.
Friday
Got plenty of money? Then head to the Karaka yearling sales, where you will learn how to spend. This is the inaugural Karaka Classic Sale, where all graduates will be eligible for the Karaka Million race at Ellerslie next January. The sales start at 11am at the Karaka complex in South Auckland, just off the Southern Motorway.
Harness racing is closer to home for city dwellers tonight, with a meeting at Alexandra Park. The big drawcard is the $400,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Trotting Cup, the premier event for the Auckland Trotting Club. Past winners include great pacers such as Cardigan Bay, Delightful Lady and Elsu, so this year's winner will be in good company. And the prize for the best-named race? The City of Sails Trot.
Gates open at 4.30pm, admission and parking are free, racing starts at 6.10pm.
Saturday
Fashion police will be out in force today at the Starcraft at Arrowfield Diamond Day at Ellerslie. Any stylish racegoer could be arrested and summoned to line up with other offenders, to be in the running for a $25,000 diamond ring. The five runners-up will each receive a $1000 diamond.
The main races today are the Ford Diamond Stakes for 2-year-olds, while the gems of the turf battle it out in the Group 1 Starcraft New Zealand Stakes. And when the racing is over, the notorious Whips'n Spurs party kicks off.
Gates open at 10.30am, entry is $10, admission to the Ascot (members) Stand is $30, the first race is 12.15pm and the last race at 6.02pm.
- Compiled by Phoebe Falconer
