Entrants in the Everest Fashion Stakes looked as though they occupied a parallel universe to many racegoers choosing party over polish as outfit inspiration.
Leaning into the drama were winners Sarah Crockett and Kalombo Ntumba. The prize pool of $15,000 in cash and prizes including vouchers for The Squire’s Landing and Oxford,was enough incentive for Ntumba,who has won the Melbourne Cup carnivals’ Fashions on the Field competition twice.
In 2021 Ntumba took home a package of prizes valued at $90,000 including a Lexus. His good luck charm has been jackets from Yohana Balibonera of YB tailoring but this time he had added assistance.
“My dad made my shirt and pants,” Ntumba said. “Not bad for an accountant.”
Crockett is another serial entrant,having placed runner-up in a number of competitions. This year Crockett decided to go big and go home a winner with a bow that would look oversized on a thoroughbred.
Full disclosure,I was a judge of Fashion Stakes alongside stylist Elliott Garnaut and Kate Waterhouse. If I could have voted for the rather large syndicate wearing black hats and bolo ties like the audience at a midnight screening of theBlues Brothers,I would have.