Caulfield Cup and The Everest LIVE: Big-name celebrities out in force as early race ends in a thrilling photo finish

Ciao ciao everyone! Courtney Thompson, deputy lifestyle editor and fashion lead for the mastheads here on deck.

I have a good feeling about today.

The sun is shining in Melbourne, I managed to overcome a severe fashion emergency and I’m only slightly running late.

Clayton Douglas didn’t expect to have 2022 Everest winner Giga Kick back for another assault two years later, when it was runner-up – let alone for a third attempt on Saturday at seven years old.

And he is not expecting the winner of $15.5 million to upset “generational” talent Ka Ying Rising or brilliant mare Tempted in the $20 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick.

But on a potential heavy surface, the Victorian trainer is daring to dream that his wet-track marvel can add another successful chapter to his Everest story.

Kate Waterhouse grew up around the racecourse, so by now, countless race days later, she can spot a fashion faux pas a mile away.

The presenter is attending Everest in Sydney today and serving as ATC Fashion Stakes Judge, dishing out her well-earned wisdom on what sets someone apart in the racewear competition.

For her, the biggest style “ick” is when it’s clear someone looks out of place.

“Racing fashion is a great opportunity to have fun and experiment, but you should still feel comfortable and confident,” Waterhouse says.

And while a bit of individual flair is welcome, don’t get too carried away with your interpretation of the dress code.

“It’s important to dress for the occasion,” she says. “There’s a certain elegance to racing fashion that I love.”

Former Melbourne Racing Club chairman Peter Le Grand has a Caulfield Cup record that will stand the test of time.

Today marks the 65th year in a row Le Grand has been at the track for the first leg of Victorian racing’s holy trinity – a streak which stayed intact through the COVID-19 pandemic because he was chairman.

He has watched the race from nearly every vantage point – from the public section to the members enclosure and the committee room. He’s even snuck into a steward’s tower.

G’day everyone and welcome to our racing blog for one of the biggest Saturdays of the year as its Caulfield Cup Day in Melbourne and Everest Day at Royal Randwick in Sydney.

We will have all the colour and fun from the tracks along with the winners and reactions from the races.

The Everest is set for 4.15pm AEDT and The Caulfield Cup is set for 5.15pm AEDT.