Members can still reserve their spots in The Byerley and the Straight Six to indulge in new menus crafted by some of Australia’s most acclaimed chefs.
Award-winning chef Guillaume Brahimi will launch his new menu, focused on highlighting exceptional seasonal Victorian produce in The Byerley while Melbourne’s King of Italian cuisine Johnny Di Francesco will fire up the pizza ovens for diners in Straight Six.
Heats of Flemington’s Winter Race Series will dominate the action on the track with seven lead-up races to Flemington Finals Day on Saturday 2 July. The winner and runner-up of each heat will gain automatic entry into the respective Series Final next month.
VRC Community Race Day includes two heats of the Banjo Paterson Series, with the Banjo Paterson Series Handicap (2520m) last year won by eventual Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) winner Grand Promenade. Among those set to feature in the race this year is last-start Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) fourth Warning.
Among other winners at this meeting last year were Argentia, Foxy Frida and Lunar Flare, who all went on to win stakes races this season, and this year is again expected to act as a springboard to the highest levels in the coming months.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich said that the club was excited to leap into winter racing at Headquarters.
“The nine-race program ushers in winter at Australia’s premier racecourse with all roads leading to Flemington Finals Day next month. Last year’s meeting showed the calibre of horses that can emerge on this day and I am certain that we will be seeing some of the future stars of the turf stepping out on Saturday,” Mr Rosich said.
“Racegoers can delight in the new menus curated by Crown Melbourne across all our bars, restaurants and retail outlets including The Byerley and Straight Six. There’s no better way to welcome in winter in Melbourne than by combining sport and premium food and wine. “
One of the greatest sprinters of all time, Hong Kong legend Silent Witness, will visit Flemington on Saturday alongside his Living Legend counterpart Beat The Clock. The pair will parade in the Mounting Yard after Race 2 and Race 4.
A special offer of $5 pies and $5 fries will exist across select retail venues.
Saintly Place Sports Bar will be open for all racegoers with billiards, foosball and AFL on screens to keep entertained between action-packed races.
Gates open at 10:50am with Race 1 at 11:50am.
