By Peter Douglas
The focus might be on metropolitan racing this week, but two Yarra Ranges’ ladies are showing country racing enthusiasts can mix it with the best.
Fashion judge Charlotte Hall, from Yarra Glen, and fashions on the field contestant Brooke Walter, from Mount Evelyn, have been turning heads amid the ever-popular Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Walter so much so that she took out first place in the coveted fashions on the field event at this year’s Cox Plate.
On a day where champion mare Winx stole the show, Walter wasn’t far behind, with the recent Bachelor of Oral Health graduate awarded the top prize.
Walter said she loved nothing more than a day out at the races.
“I won Miss Emirates at Flemington when I was just 14, and it’s kind of rolled on from there,” she said.
“Racing is a great social event, a great atmosphere and I enjoy it.”
Walter said there was no secret to her elevation to the dais, just that she was not fazed whether she followed fashion trends or not.
“You can never pick it, so I just try to wear what I’m confident in and what’s appropriate for the weather,” she said.
While Walter’s racing star is seemingly on the rise, one already well-established is Charlotte Hall’s, who had the pleasure of judging on the day.
Hall comes from a racing family and lives close to the Yarra Glen Racecourse.
Her father is involved in the sport, with her great uncle racing royalty, after he trained Kiwi to the Melbourne Cup in 1983.
Hall agreed with Walter’s sentiment that there is no right way to select an award-winning outfit.
“We’re seeing a lot more clashes of colour – a lot of pink and red clashes – which is exciting and much more fun for the judges. Black isn’t necessarily the new black,” she said.
“If it’s line-ball, it often comes down to the entrants themselves, and how they present themselves.”
Both racing enthusiasts praised the quality of local racing days and encouraged local support.
One of the biggest days on the Yarra Valley Racing calendar is the Yarra Valley Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 7 November, as well as Oaks Day on Thursday 9 November.
Another is the highly anticipated Early Christmas Race Meet on Saturday, 25 November.
For more details, visit www.country.racing.com/yarra-valley.
