Clare Andrew says she's entering her first Fashion in the Field event for the experience. Photo / Michael Craig
Clare Andrew says she's entering her first Fashion in the Field event for the experience. Photo / Michael Craig
The fashion police will be out in force at the New Zealand Herald Boxing Day races at Ellerslie today.
But they won't be looking for any criminally bad outfits. Instead, they will be tapping well-dressed people on the shoulder and inviting them to enter the popular Fashions in the Field event.
For the first time, organisers will have fashion police officers at the grounds looking for suitable candidates for the annual competition.
The fashion police will include actor Aaron Ward of Nothing Trivial fame. They will tap people with their "fashion paddles" and if they think they have what it takes, encourage them to join the contest.
There are 45 entries to Fashions in the Field so far with about 100 more expected on the day - including the prolific Moor sisters, Charlotte and Olivia, and members of the Campbell family, who have also been previous winners.
Clare Andrew, 28, from Epsom, Auckland, is entering for the first time.
"I was at the Boxing Day races last year and watched a friend compete in Fashion in the Fields, it looked like such fun so I decided to be part of it this year," she said.
Ms Andrew will wear a Trelise Cooper dress and a fascinator hat she had custom-made by Claire Hahn.
"I'm not overly competitive, I'm entering for the experience but ... it would be a bonus if I came away with a prize," Ms Andrew added.
Fashions in the Field judges this year are fashion designer Tanya Carlsen, celebrity stylist Lulu Wilcox and fashion stylist and journalist Sammy Salsa.
Fashionistas will be duking it out over four categories; Under-25, Canvas Ladies Racewear, Hawaiian Airlines Ascot Lay (over 45 years) and Menswear.
The winner of each category will win a $3000 prize package from their category sponsor. The supreme winner will also gain automatic entry into Viva Prix de Fashion on Auckland Cup Day 2016.
"We have had more pre-entries than ever before and looking forward to a brilliant day of fabulous fashion and thrilling thoroughbred racing," said Adrienne Bonell, general manager of marketing at Auckland Racing Club.
Supermodel has golden touch with racehorse syndicates
Kylie Bax. Photo / Greg Bowker
Internationally renowned supermodel Kylie Bax is fast becoming the new face of racehorse syndication.
Bax has put together syndicates to race two horses and both have won on debut in the past nine weeks.
Now she could get her next big breakthrough when Ruby Armani steps out for the first time in group company in today's Group 2 Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie.
Bax, who bred Makfi filly Ruby Armani in partnership with her parents, Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, at Matamata's Blandford Lodge, and Ian Troughton, is still coming to terms with the flying start her syndicated horses have made.
"It's been a thrill; absolutely unbelievable," Cambridge-based Bax said. "Ruby has a fantastic pedigree, a family dad and I have worked hard to establish over the years. We knew when she got broken in by Jeremy Whale at Diamond Lodge that she had it all going on.
"When we first saw her galloping across the paddock, it was jaw-dropping. There's just something about her. It was such a thrill when she won on debut and she's run really well since. This race is a big step up but we think she's ready for it."
Ruby Armani, who is prepared by Matamata's Chad Ormsby and Michael Moroney, followed her Tauranga win in October with a luckless third at Rotorua and then a creditable fifth. A fourth at Te Rapa last week rounded out her preparation.
"It's such a strong field on Boxing Day but I'm hoping for another good run and I'm hoping for a good track," Bax said. "If she can take up a good position from the ace draw, I can see her coming home well again. I can see her running in the top five."
Bax said her six shareholders were all excited about the Boxing Day feature. No decision on whether Ruby Armani would back up in the Group 2 Royal Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day would be made until after the Classic.
Bax's other winner was Hot In High Heels, who won at Matamata last week for Matamata trainer Phillip Stevens.
