PONY PATRONS A sneak peek inside TAB Everest Race Day’s most photographed marquee

Of course, it wouldn’t be a true day at the Royal Randwick Racecourse without our very own roster of VIPs spotted beyond the velvet ropes. And as much as we love our good ol’ punters and posers, Sydney’s social set was also spotted doing what they do best: sipping champagne like it’s cardio and pretending the races are merely background noise.

Leading the charge was, as always, Kate Waterhouse, forever the picture of trackside elegance, this time in a Mariam Seddiq number. She was joined by the likes of Count Nikolai of Monpezat (aka my husband), Stacey Hemera Roberts, and Krissy Marsh, just to list a few familiar names.

Others in attendance also included Australia’s most functional MAFS couple, Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant, who continue to remind us that genuine affection can, in fact, survive reality TV. And Grace Hayden made sure subtlety didn’t make the guest list, floating through in a pink tulle, Disney-princess-meets-cotton-candy fantasy that stole more attention than the horses ever could (we loved it).

It was glamour, gossip, and just the right amount of chaos. Don’t believe me? Scroll down to check out all the VIP pics from the day.