IT was the first Albury Gold Cup for new Star FM radio duo Tom and Olly.
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Tom (Bainbridge) said the atmosphere wasn’t too different from race days in Melbourne.
“There are beautiful people and the jockeys are still short,” he said.
Olly (Morris) was focused on smothering his party pies in sauce but said anybody looking to punt should not bet on the same horse as Albury mayor Kevin Mack.
“Don’t back the Mack,” he said.
Tom and Olly admitted they once snuck into the members area at Mornington carrying a table and garbage bin.
WHEN you think batsuit and tight leather, masks and capes come to mind.
But not if you’re Albury’s Scott Bensley, who dressed up in the superhero look for gold cup.
Mr Bensley ordered a red suit covered in the Batman symbol five days ago, especially for the race day.
“I didn’t want anybody to have the same outfit,” he said.
Mr Bensley however decided to remain on the sidelines for fashions on the field because he felt the judges were going for a more traditional look.
“This is just too different,” he said.
His suit was being eyed off by punters wherever he walked.
“I love the colours, it makes you stand out,” Mr Bensley said.
Unfortunately Mr Bensley left Catwoman at home.
AN outfit from Paris is Claire Davenport’s secret weapon.
The Albury woman was snapped in The Border Mail’s Hot 100 tent early in the day.
Her bright red lips, nails and fascinator popped against her white lace dress, creating a feminine look.
It was Ms Davenport’s first time entering the Hot 100 competition and her first time to Albury Gold Cup in almost 10 years.
She wouldn’t say whether she thought she would win or not but said she was happy just to be a part of it.
She advised voters to look for bright colours and good style.
“Albury Gold Cup is all about fashion and horses,” she said.
“Although most people just come for the fashion.
“I just love the atmosphere.
“It’s amazing.”
MODELS Nikki Phillips and Kris Smith stood out in all their beauty at the Myer marquee.
Phillips, who wore a navy dress with a red floral headpiece, was impressed by the outfits.
“There’s a lot of attention to detail and neutral, earthy tones,” she said.
Phillips wore what she called her “race shoes” and said it was important to go for comfort.
“My race shoes are fashion-forward, funky and you can last in them.”
It was hard to get a comment from Smith as he was being gazed at and photographed from every angle.
At one point women were forming a queue just to get a happy snap with him.
ALBURY Labor candidate Ross Jackson was relaxing in the Albury Council tent ahead of the NSW election on Saturday.
He was sipping nothing but coffee but said during his campaigning he still was getting 10 hours of sleep every night.
He plans to spend today with his family.
“I’m feeling really good,” he said.
Mr Jackson said he was an optimist and he would accept Saturday’s election results.
“I’ve been in for the good fight and I’ll accept it as it comes,” he said.
Mr Jackson joked, however, that the Albury Gold Cup was possibly not the best outing for him because he said, tongue-in-cheek, he had to spend the day fighting off all the women.
It was also good to see Mr Jackson was not wearing the same outfit as mayor Kevin Mack this year.
Mr Jackson’s partner Nicole Callow and their daughter Laura were also enjoying the day.
“HATS don’t work for men unless they’re bald”.
That was the only fashion tip from mayor Kevin Mack yesterday.
But one Albury councillor did reveal something special about Cr Mack’s suit.
“Kevin is someone who looks after his physique,” Cr Darren Cameron said.
“He is wearing the same suit he wore at his police graduation in 1974.
“He puts a lot of work in and keeps fit.”
Cr Mack’s grey suit was covering a blue and white check shirt.
He spent the day away from the frothy beers and kept warm with a cup of tea.
He was mingling in the Albury City tent with fellow councillors from Wodonga, Corowa and the Indigo Shire.
SOME were surprised to see Wodonga mayor Rod Wangman punting from the Albury Council marquee.
But Cr Wangman accepted an invitation from Albury’s mayor to see how the cup day was organised.
Cr Wangman put his money on a horse in race four called Born Superstar but unfortunately it did not win or place.
He said he enjoyed crossing the border for Albury’s annual cup day.
Indigo Shire mayor Bernard Gaffney relaxed alongside Cr Wangman.
“It’s good to see Albury councillors glammed up,” he said.
The Minister for Health and Sport, Farrer MP Sussan Ley was keeping her betting cards close to her chest yesterday.
“I’m waiting for my hot tips to come through,” she said.
After attending the races at the Broken Hill St Patrick’s Race Club recently, Ms Ley was not getting too excited.
“I lost more than eight times but there were only eight races,” she said.
Ms Ley enjoyed a glass of bubbly with Albury Race Club member Gail Macneil.
WARREN Gruber was enjoying his final days as a single man, dressed as a cow.
He claimed he was meant to be a bull but the udder on his suit didn’t make that obvious.
Mr Gruber was surrounded by about 30 men dressed as bull runners.
The group travelled from Queanbeyan for the Albury Gold Cup.
“It’s my first year to the Albury Gold Cup but I love it,” he said.
It is a tradition for Mr Gruber’s group of friends to travel to different regional areas for bucks’ parties.
ALBURY GOLD CUP COVERAGE
PHOTOS
NEWS REPORTS
FASHION
RACING