Episode 33: Spring racing

Giaan, Glen, Brodie, Grant, Pia and Lauren and find out how to make the most of this year's Spring Racing Carnival.  From the best in fashion, millinery and food to places to stay after a day at the track.

Simon O'Donnell at Mooney Valley
Mooney Valley is home to one of this country's most popular races, the Cox Plate. To check out the action Grant and Brodie join Channel Nine stable mate Simon O'Donnell, who, as well as being a talented cricket and racing commentator, owns and manages a thoroughbred racing company.  It's said that the Cox Plate is the race where legends are made, and with a three-million-dollar prize it's the most highly regarded weight for age race in Australasia. And it's strategically placed on the racing calendar between the Caulfield and Melbourne cups.

Tatts Cox Plate
Mooney Valley Racing Club
22 October 2011
www.mvrc.net.au

Royce Hotel and Chin Chin
To celebrate a win, a night of five-star luxury at the boutique Royce Hotel will continue that winning feeling. Recently developed with two more levels of accommodation, you can book the glamorous Royal Suite or one of the newly refurbished Executive Suites, some with city-skyline balconies. All rooms have a 42-inch plasma screen, an Italian-marble bathroom and modern designer furnishings.

You'll also need a celebratory dinner, so head into town to Chin Chin.  With an ultra-cool urban design, it's lit by tall windows that look over cobbled lanes by day and by sultry lanterns at night light. Pop art explodes on the walls behind the bar, where tempting cocktails are made with lychee, lemongrass and lime.

Royce Hotel
379 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Ph 03 9677 9900
www.roycehotels.com.au

Chin Chin
125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Ph 03 8663 2000
www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au

Milliners
Richard Nylon is possibly Australia's most celebrated milliner and his extraordinary hats, which blur the line between fashion and art, appear on some of the most fashionable heads at the Spring Racing Carnival. He is also one of Myer Melbourne's featured Australian milliners, and while you can commission a one-off creation at his studio, it's a delight to see his ready-to-wear range, designed especially for Myer.

Serena Lindeman specialises in fine bespoke milinery and makes a range of ready-to-wear hats and custom designs. She also runs regular millinery classes at the iconic Nicholas Building in Swanston Street.

Another fashionista go-to-designer is Estelle Michaelides. Estelle's beautiful boutique in Smith Street Collingwood showcases head-turning head works of millinery art as well as an eclectic selection of clothing, accessories, body products and scented candles.

Myer Melbourne
Bourke Street Mall
Ph 03 9661 1111
www.myer.com.au

Serena Lindeman Millinery
Room 602, 37 Swanston St, Melbourne
Ph 03 9639 4600
www.serenalindeman.com.au

Estelle Michaelides
382 Smith St, Collingwood
Ph 03 9004 1821
www.theestellestore.com.au

Arthur Galan, Stamford and Comme
If you're heading to the races, you'll need to add to your spring wardrobe, find a place to stay and treat yourself to a night out somewhere special.

Glen's first stop is Arthur Galan in South Yarra for the latest mens fashion trends. Then it's time to book into the Stamford Plaza. This hotel is always a winner with its excellent location, in walking distance of all Melbourne's top sporting arenas, 283 spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom suits, gym, pool, spa, sauna, bar and restaurant. For relaxed dining, Comme restaurant is metres from the Stamford's front door. With one chef's hat from The Age Good Food Guide, it's a favourite Melbourne foodie favourite.

Arthur Galan
443 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Ph 03 9827 2911

The Stamford Plaza Melbourne
111 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Ph 03 9659 1000
stamford.com.au/spm

Comme
7 Alfred Place, Melbourne
Ph 03 9631 4000
comme.com.au

Caulfield, Underwood Stakes Day
Caulfield is of the best places to be during Spring Racing season. The track is about 20 minutes from the CBD and home to two of the most prestigious events on the racing calendar: the Caulfield Guineas and the Caulfield Cup. Giaan tours Caulfield at the Underwood Stakes, where she meets Black Caviar trainer Peter Moody, then charts to Josh, Jenna, Rod and Tania from Channel Nine's The Block. Giaan also meets with this year's Face of Caulfield Bree Laughlin to talk about Fashion on the Fields.

The Age Caulfield Guineas Day
Saturday 8 October
BMW Caulfield Cup Day
Saturday 15 October
www.cupcarnival.com.au 

Postcards diary

Grampians Wildflower Show
The Grampians are especially spectacular in spring with the 74th Annual Grampians Wildflower Show.  

Where: Halls Gap
When: 1–2 October 2011
More: www.grampianswildflowershow.org.au

Bank of Melbourne Marathon Festival
Keep up your training or cheer your friends taking part in the marathon.

Where: Melbourne
When: 9 October 2011
More: melbournemarathon.com.au