Black Sticks and All Blacks mingle at the Wellington cup

All Black and guest judge Ardie Savea with Classic Lady of the Carnival winners Kate Bryant and Olivia Moor. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Thousands of glad-ragged racegoers filled Trentham for today's Wellington Cup, as the blazing sunshine made hats a must-wear item on capital city's most glamorous day of the year.

All Blacks Beauden Barrett, Victor Vito and Julian and Ardie Savea added some star-power to the fashion in the field judging, as they each cast their eye over a category.

Classic Lady of the Carnival contestants on the catwalk during the Wellington Cup Day at Trentham Racecourse. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Later they mixed and mingled and stared in countless selfies.

The New Zealand women's hockey team, the Black Sticks, also made an appearance on the catwalk, minus the recently engaged Gemma Flynn.

Man of the Carnival contestants on the catwalk during the Fashion stakes at the Wellington Cup Day at Trentham Racecourse. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Her beau, recently retired All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, wasn't there either. Instead, he turned his attention to a multi-sport endurance race in Wanaka.

Fashion show compare Julia Shardlow raised the possibility of even more All Blacks engagements from the hockey team, noting the presence of "a few single ladies... for all the single men out there".

"We might have a future All Blacks wife."

Jane and Leslie Craven, of Wellington, at the Wellington Cup Day at Trentham Racecourse. Photo / Mark Mitchell

As the races went on the background, many of the male spectators were wilting in their tidy shirts and ties.

Female fashion seemed more fitting for the mid-20sC temperature, with hats and airy dresses.

Olivia Moor, of Auckland, was taking home a prize pack after being named a classic lady of the carnival.

She and her friends have been coming to the cup for five years, staying with local mates.

Her hat and dress were made by her mum Ali, whose creativity took a couple of weeks.

Jane and Leslie Craven were standing out from the crowd, resplendent in their green steampunk outfits - think Jules Verne.

Mrs Craven had made just about everything the pair were sporting. "We want to help promote steampunk in Wellington," she said.