5. Looking the part at the highly successful Annual Cootamundra Cup race meeting are Liz Dascombe and Pauline Donoghue from the Central Coast. They were here to play a part in Race 8 – The Mick Donoghue Memorial Race. 6. There was first-class fashion worn by these ladies who were on the stage prior to the judging of Best Dressed Lady. 7. Also dressed to impress was local lady Narelle Piffero from Naturally Aligned Pilates & Wellness Centre. 8. Delighted to catch up with these happy girls at the races – Amy Collingridge, Lynne O’Connor, Cindy Gash and the head of Creekside Kids Daycare Centre Jessica Roberts. 9. Proud parents Brad and Jane Bateup were on hand to see their daughter Ivy Bateup judged Best Dressed Young Lady on the day. 10. I caught up with Nicole Sullivan and Alison Jones prior to the judging of Best Dressed Lady at the Coota Cup Race meeting held on Sunday last. 11. Pictured here at the Mick Donoghue Memorial Race presentation are Gerard Donoghue, the late Mick Donoghue’s daughter Margaret Wallace and the winning trainer Michael Travers, from Wagga, accepting the trophy on behalf of the owners of the winning horse Magical Slipper. 12. The running of the Annual Cootamundra Cup held at the racecourse on Sunday was an outstanding success with many in attendance including Julia McLeod and Liz Bodycott. On a warm day, the Rugby League Club kept busy manning the bar and the revamped GRAND grandstand almost full to capacity – and how good does it look since it was REVAMPED!!! The racecourse facility can be hired for functions etc. and I noted the afternoon tea rooms under the grandstand have been revamped with a first-class kitchen etc. It had a function taking place there on race day. 13. Peter Heywood of Cootamundra is picture here with a friend from Goulburn who deceided the great spring weather was too good an opportunity to miss.
Best Dressed Couple went to Paul Lyons and Marianna Gilchrist from Little Hartley in the Blue Mountains.
While thoroughbred racing took centre stage at Cootamundra Racecourse on Sunday, the glitz and the glam of the Cootamundra Turf Club 2023 fashions on the fields stole the show off track.
Catching the judge’s attention was Canberra visitor and regular attendee Sally Martin, who claimed the coveted Classic Lady honours.
Yass competitor and well-respected fashionista Ali Jones won the Millinery competition, and Wollongong visitor Jas Whichello was very on-trend when winning the Best Dressed Gentleman.
The Best Dressed Junior title went to the very trendy Oliver Dhu, and the stylish Ivy Bateup won Best Dressed Teen.
Jak + Jill’s co-owner and sponsor, Tracey Ewings, was delighted with the quality of outfits on show, with competitors sticking to spring 2023 trends.
“It was wonderful,” Ewings said.
“There were lots of colours and some great outfits.”
Jamie Hall and Best Dressed Classic Lady Sally Martin.
Touching on Martin’s outfit and accessories, Ewings said it hit every brief.
“It was just the beautiful colours and a very spring look,” Ewings said.
“It was polished, well finished off and well put together.”
Ewings was particularly fond of Jones’ millinery piece, which had everyone talking.
Millinery winner Alison Jones with Jak + Jill’s Jamie Hall.
“The millinery piece was hot pink and had metallic flecks through it, and it was bright and stood out,” Ewings said.
“It was very stylish and complemented Ali’s outfit.”
The men’s competition was tougher to decide on, but Ewings said it all came down to Whichello’s outfit being a little more ‘on-trend’.
“With the men’s, we had trouble deciding,” Ewings said.
“There were checked pants, hats, white shirts, and a lot of classic looks for spring, and to be honest, the winner’s was very on-trend with colours.”
Philip Partalis and Jason Whichello flank Jamie Hall in the Best Dressed Men’s department.
While fashions on the field was a hit, a decent crowd was on hand as Cootamundra hosted an eight-race program headlined by the $32,000 Cootamundra Cup (1400m).
Thistledo ran his last race for Gundagai Trainer David ‘Darky’ Blundell in the Cup, where he defeated the rest of the field, with the 11 year old retired post race by the veteran Trainer. Josh Parr is pictured with the pair after a peach of a ride aboard the old stager.
“It was great; it was windy and quite warm, so the grandstand was packed, but overall, it was a pretty good crowd,” Ewings said.
“There was a good atmosphere and a bit of live music, with a couple of young local guys playing, and I thought it all went off really well.
“At the end of the day, it was just good to be back racing, and we had a lot of good feedback from jockeys, and that was a good result.”
For more on the meeting and all the results, readers can turn to the print edition of today’s Cootamundra Times. More to come.
