It was dubbed ‘Australia’s biggest race day’ and racegoers in Sydney and Melbourne certainly acted like it.
In Sydney, a sold-out 50,000-strong crowd was on hand to watch Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising take out the $20million Everest at Royal Randwick.
‘It’s certainly the biggest thrill in my life,’ trainer David Hayes said.
‘I couldn’t be cocky. I would’ve been so disappointed if he didn’t win.’
The Everest is one of the more unique big race days on the Australian calendar with more than 60 per cent of the crowd under the age of 26.
And they lapped up the Sydney sunshine to watch the ninth edition of the world’s best sprint race.
In Melbourne, history was created in the time-honoured Caulfield Cup after Jamie Melham became the first female jockey to win the race in its 149th edition.
A sold-out crowd of 50,000 was at Randwick to watch The Everest on Saturday
Racegoers at Caulfield showed up too as Jamie Melham created history in the cup
Media personality Grace Hayden was at Randwick for the big race
Many punters left Randwick happy as the favourite took out The Everest
Ka Ying Rising, ridden by jockey Zac Purton, wins The Everest at Royal Randwick
The Everest has become a young people’s race as it’s developed over the years
Some punters were keen to make a quick getaway after the races ended
Others too time for a rest after a long day in the sunshine.
She rode Half Yours to an emphatic win and her 17th Group 1 triumph.
‘I’ve tried not to think about the race too much the past few days but I knew I was coming here to ride the best horse,’ Melham said.
‘I’ve had an incredible career, so lucky, but to win one of the big ones is amazing.’
Melburnians didn’t want Sydney to outdo them and they too showed up in numbers to celebrate one of the country’s Grand Slam races.
The ladies dressed elegantly for Sydney’s biggest race day
It was the biggest race day at Randwick since Winx’s last race
Revellers packed the lawns at Caulfield for the big day.
Racegoers lived it up in the sun at Caulfield on Saturday
It was a bif day for the ladies on and off the track at Caulfield
Jamie Melham became the first female jockey to win the Caulfield Cup in its 149-year history
Jamie Melham wasn’t the only female rider getting a perfect passage at Caulfield.
Punters celebrate a win at Caulfield on Saturday
Punters in Sydney and Melbounre was in good moods on what was a massive day of racing
Punters enjoyed the sunshine and a few drinks on the day in Melbourne
