Showers Fail To Dampen Ellerslie Glamour & Glory

Seasonal Showers Fail To Dampen Glamour And Glory On Track At Ellerslie

In the style of the race days of old, 20,000 people celebrated the Boxing Day races at Ellerslie on the first day of the New Zealand Herald Christmas carnival.

Wile the fashion focus of the day was on the 20th anniversary of the Fashions in the Field, the quality of the contemporary fashion in competition, and on track, was outstanding.

The Deutz Supreme Award was won by 24 year old Aleisha Williams of Pt Chevalier. She wore a 40's inspired bone ivory canvas dress, with leather bolero and hat, which she designed and made herself. Aleisha also won the Blue Lagoon Cruise Fiji Millinery category taking away fantastic prizes, as well as gaining automatic entry into the Mercedes Prix de Fashion to be held during Auckland Cup week in March.

Other winners included Lulu Alach in the Canvas Magazine Ladies Racewear, David De Lotour in the Suit Yourself Men's Racewear, Charlotte Moor in the Alannah Hill Under 25, Mary Marshall in the Graeme Thomson Ascot Lady, and Philippa Wroe in the Cyber-shot Avant-garde category, wearing a fabulous outfit designed by her friend, and Deutz Supreme Award winner, Aleisha Williams.

Katherine Murray, Deutz Marlborough Cuvee Brand Manager, awarded Aleisha with the supreme award. "Deutz is proud to support the Fashions in the field at Ellerslie and it's been amazing to see so many fantastic outfits here today. Once again the bar continues to be raised, and the quality of fashion on show is just fantastic," she said.

And while the catwalk competition was fierce, there was plenty of action, and drama, on track. In the biggest race of the day, the Zabeel Classic, odds on favourite Xcellent was edged out by Sir Slick, who led from start to finish. Trained by Graeme Nicholson, and Jockeyed by Bruce Herd, Sir Slick is a crowd favourite at Ellerslie and proved too fast for Xcellent who had his first loss on New Zealand soil.

In the other big races of Boxing Day, Prince Kaapstad won the First Sovereign Trust Great Northern Guineas, and Satinka, trained by Lance O'Sullivan, won the Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic.

Chris Weaver, CEO of the Auckland Racing club was delighted with the day. "The crowds came along, despite some patchy weather, and enjoyed a great day. Spirits were high and the crowd was well behaved, we're looking forward to the rest of the week," he said.

From the Classic Hits Mad Hatters Tea Party in the Ellerslie infield, to the premiere location of Cuvee, the atmosphere was relaxed. Once again Boxing Day at Ellerslie proved a perfect way to compliment Christmas, kicking off the New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival at Ellerslie in style.

ENDS

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