Werribee off and racing

The Werribee Cup will be this year's season opener.

By Charlene Macaulay

It may still be cold outside, but the Werribee Racing Club is gearing up for a season of fillies, fashion and fun.

The club will launch its 2018-19 season in style next month with a cocktail event.

The season opener will be the Werribee Cup – complete with fashions on the field and a special garden pavilion – on December 9, but racing club manager Ashley Baker said the fun would begin in late September during the quarantine period, where members of the public can pop down to the track every morning and see horses competing in the Spring Racing Carnival complete their track work.

“It is shaping up to be one of the biggest quarantine seasons on record and, in exciting news from Japan, high-class gallopers Chestnut Coat and Sole Impact have both been entered for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup and are likely to head to Werribee,” Mr Baker said.

“The first shipment from Europe will arrive mid-September with trainers Charlie Appleby and Ed Dunlop likely to head back Down Under. Racing Victoria are also hopeful last year’s Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien will return with a team of runners.”

The club will also host its annual International Breakfast with the Stars on November 1, offering people a chance to rub shoulders with leading horse owners and trainers.

The launch will be held from 6-7.30pm on August 9 at the Werribee Racing Club. Places are limited for this free event. To register go to bit.ly/2uAlLwF before August 3.