Caulfield Cup 2023 LIVE updates: Mild spring conditions greet racegoers ahead of possible thunderstorm on Caulfield Cup day

Influencer Mia Fevola has form that drives social media clicks.

The daughter of AFL footballer Brendan Fevola embraced youth over tradition in a mini-mini dress by Australian label Bianca and Bridgett.

Mia Fevola at Caulfield Cup day.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

“It might be a bit risky but you have to feel comfortable and stick to your own style,” Mia says.

“The designers are friends of mine and it’s sometimes best to stick with what you know will work.”

Nathan Banks has flown down from Sydney for the races along with 23 friends to celebrate his bucks day.

He’s getting married in November which leaves plenty of time to recover before the main event.Banks is unsure what the plan is for the day.

Groom Nathan Banks, far left, and his mates enjoy his bucks Day at the Caulfield Cup.Credit: Cara Waters

“I’m not too sure being the buck,” he says. “It is just turn up, see what happens, go along with the flow.”

Best man Nick Hatz has organised the day which has the theme of “party shirt and party skirt”.

“There are no girls, so it’s just shirts,” Hatz says.

He’s dressed Banks for the day in a pink velvet suit with zebra print lapels and cuffs along with a matching hat.

“We are excited to be here,” Hatz says.

His only complaint is that it’s “a bit expensive” at $13.50 a drink, but that doesn’t bother the groom to be who is not paying.

“We are just moving and grooving,” Banks says.

After a couple of days of warm weather, today’s track at Caulfield has been rated a Good 4 to start Cup day.

Track staff and stewards use equipment to determine how much moisture is in the track, and rate the track’s firmness on a scale of 1-10.

The Caulfield Cup on Caulfield racecourse.Credit: Racing Photos/Getty Images

A Good 4 track is considered the perfect surface, and Racing Victoria requires staff to prepare their tracks to be rated a Good 4 for the start of a race meeting.

Track staff prepare a track by watering it throughout the week – if there’s no rain – to ensure it’s in the perfect range for racing.

The track may get upgraded to a Good 3 later today if the sun and wind dries out the track any more.

Clubs are also given guidelines to make sure the track doesn’t get into the Firm 2 or Firm 1 range at any stage, therefore, track staff spend a lot of their preparation time checking forecasts to make sure they’re prepared for the day’s conditions.

When rain does hit, tracks can be downgraded, into Soft 5, Soft 6 or Soft 7 range, or can be rated a Heavy 8, Heavy 9 or Heavy 10 if they get really sloppy and muddy.

First it was Gold Trip’s silks saluting.

Now, the silks of Caulfield Cup fancy Soulcombe have prevailed, with Sunsets causing a boilover in the Neds Classic – a key lead-up race to the VRC Derby in a fortnight’s time.

Owned by Melbourne businessmen Ozzie Kheir and John O’Neill, Sunsets joins a long list of winners for the prolific owners, who also partnered to win a Cox Plate with Sir Dragonet and a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup with Verry Elleegant.

The son of Dundeel was a $150,000 yearling purchase, but can now be considered one of the leading chances in the $2 million Derby.

Riff Rocket, the short-priced favourite, had every chance to chase down Sunsets, but the upset result is set to make the Derby a more interesting race.

Riff Rocket is owned by Debbie Kepitis, the larger-than-life part-owner of champion Winx.

The general admission lawns at Caulfield are getting busier with punters staking out prime positions with picnic blankets and folding chairs.

Doctor Fahi Taba, her sister Farnaz Taba and their friend Negin Yazdani said they were attending the Caulfield Cup for the fashion not the horses.

Racegoers Negin Yazdani, Fahi Taba and Farnaz TabaCredit: Cara Waters

“I don’t know much about horses and the cup itself,” Taba said.

“I’ve been in Australia for 15 years and this is the first time I’ve come. I’m here just out of curiosity and I love dressing up, like every other woman.”

Sunsets have snuck past more favoured horses to win race two at Caulfield.