MELBOURNE CUP
Lexus is proud to be an official partner of the Melbourne Cup Carnival
This year is set to be another exciting chapter in the history of Lexus' involvement with the Melbourne Cup Carnival, a sponsorship which is now in its ninth year.
As official partner and exclusive vehicle sponsor of the Victorian Racing Club and the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Lexus will supply the vehicles for the Melbourne Cup Parade in the lead up to Australia's greatest race.
Trackside, Lexus is the exclusive sponsor of the Lexus Stakes and the Lexus Hybrid Plate. The Lexus Stakes will be held on AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Saturday, October 29 and the Lexus Hybrid Plate takes place on Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday, November 1, 2011.
In the midst of all the action, Lexus guests and ambassadors will savour a luxurious race going experience in the Lexus GS Lounge, located in the exclusive Birdcage area at Flemington. The GS Lounge will also showcase the New Generation GS, giving our exclusive guests the first Australian sneak peek of this all-new luxury sports sedan ahead of its arrival in early 2012. With the 'sky deck' designed by Lexus ambassador Jamie Durie, the Lexus GS Lounge will welcome other Lexus ambassadors John Eales and Neil Perry, who will create a signature dish and other culinary delights for our guests.
As official partner and exclusive vehicle sponsor of the Victorian Racing Club and the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Lexus will supply the vehicles for the Melbourne Cup Parade in the lead up to Australia's greatest race.
Trackside, Lexus is the exclusive sponsor of the Lexus Stakes and the Lexus Hybrid Plate. The Lexus Stakes will be held on AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Saturday, October 29 and the Lexus Hybrid Plate takes place on Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday, November 1, 2011.
In the midst of all the action, Lexus guests and ambassadors will savour a luxurious race going experience in the Lexus GS Lounge, located in the exclusive Birdcage area at Flemington. The GS Lounge will also showcase the New Generation GS, giving our exclusive guests the first Australian sneak peek of this all-new luxury sports sedan ahead of its arrival in early 2012. With the 'sky deck' designed by Lexus ambassador Jamie Durie, the Lexus GS Lounge will welcome other Lexus ambassadors John Eales and Neil Perry, who will create a signature dish and other culinary delights for our guests.
Meet the Melbourne Cup Carnival Lexus Ambassadors
Jamie Durie
Award winning landscape designer and much-loved television presenter, Jamie Durie is Lexus' newest ambassador.A passionate advocate for environmental sustainability, Jamie Durie was the perfect choice to be an ambassador for Lexus RX Hybrid, a car that is all about performance, luxury and sustainability.
As well as his role as ambassador, Lexus are thrilled to announce that at the Melbourne Cup Carnival Jamie has been involved in the design of the Lexus facility in the VIP Birdcage enclosure.
"The design is based on Lexus' philosophy of providing progressive luxury, in which personal experiences are both rewarding and enriching. We have really worked hard to create an exclusive experience for the guests that represent Lexus' principles of luxury, high quality and sustainable design" says Jamie.
Lexus Australia CEO, Tony Cramb explains "Jamie has always strived to be the best in his field, making him the perfect fit for Lexus as we too are constantly striving for perfection."
Jamie has built a career on his unique outdoor designs which have won him five Gold Medals at flower and garden shows around the world, including the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in England. He is the best-selling author of seven garden design and inspirations books, and a seven time Logie winner for his work on Backyard Blitz. In 2011, Jamie returned to Channel Nine working on Top Design and continues to build his profile overseas currently filming The Outdoor Room on HGTV in the US.
Neil Perry
Neil Perry, one of Australia's leading and most influential chefs, will create a signature dish and other delicious fare for our Melbourne Cup Carnival guests in the GS Lounge.Neil has owned several quality restaurants in Australia. Neil's current restaurant portfolio includes Rockpool in Sydney; Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney, Melbourne and Perth; Spice Temple Sydney and Melbourne; and The Waiting Room in Melbourne, as well as the Rockpool Consulting arm of the business.
Neil heads a team of five consultants to Qantas Airways. Menus are developed quarterly for International First and Business Class travellers, with the team overseeing the implementation and introduction to catering centres at key ports.
Neil is also author of five recipe books; Rockpool, Simply Asian, The Food I Love, Good Food and Balance & Harmony, with a further book based on Rockpool Bar & Grill due in late 2011. Neil is also the creator of a range of Neil Perry Fresh food products; and has been a television presenter and guest on a number of Australian and international shows.
Neil's career in hospitality began at Sails restaurant at McMahons Point and in Rose Bay. Neil then became head chef at Barrenjoey Restaurant, Palm Beach and was also given creative control over Perry's in Paddington. In October 1986, he opened the Blue Water Grill at Bondi Beach and took the site from a 20 year failure to an overnight success. He then opened Rockpool in February 1989 with his partner Trish Richards, which has developed into a world-class restaurant, winning many awards both here and overseas.
Neil's passion and the importance he places on quality produce are evident in all his dishes and the business projects he undertakes.
John Eales
Lexus ambassador John Eales participated in two successful World Cup campaigns, captaining the Wallabies in memorable victories including the 1999 World Cup. Eales led Australia through three Bledisloe Cup wins and two successful seasons of Tri-Nations fixtures, and he also led the Wallabies to their first ever victory over the British and Irish Lions.His retirement from rugby in September 2001 marked the end of an era for the Australian game and tributes flooded in from far and wide. In 2002 the ARU launched a prestigious award to honour the game's best Wallaby player each season, known as The John Eales Medal.
Following retirement, John developed the John Eales 5 brand, now trading as International Quarterback in corporate hospitality and event management. John has been a consultant to BT Financial Group since 2001, a Director of the Sports Australia Hall of Fame, a Director of GRM, a business operating in the field of International Development, an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and an Australian Financial Review columnist from 2002 to 2011. In 2004 and 2008 John attended the Olympics as an Athlete Liaison Officer for the Australian Team, and he will also attend in 2012. John is also a director on the Board of Australian Rugby Union and an Ambassador for Qantas.
John drew upon his psychology degree from the University of Queensland as a founding partner of Mettle Group, a company specialising in leadership and organisational culture. In 2007 Mettle was acquired by publicly-listed company Chandler Macleod and John continues in his leadership role across both businesses.
John has also authored two books in the Learning from Legends series, the first focusing on the leadership lessons and experiences of sporting identities, and the second on prominent business leaders.
As ambassador for the Lexus New Generation GS, John will be attending the GS Lounge during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, where many of our guests will be seeing this all-new luxury sports sedan in Australia for the first time.
Gallery
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Emma Freedman -
Stephen Genoglou -
Anthony Lehman and Tony Cram -
Lisa Wilkinson
Pin & Win
Vision Australia is the official charity partner of the Victorian Racing Club's Pin & Win charity promotion in 2011, with all Pin & Win proceeds going to Vision Australia's Seeing Eye Dogs programme.From October 1 to November 5, you can purchase Pin & Win lapel pins for $5.00 or $10.00 at the Vision Australia and Flemington Shop websites, and at selected TAB outlets. Volunteers will be selling the lapel pins at Flemington throughout the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
All those who purchase a Pin & Win lapel pin can enter the draw to win $145,000 worth of prizes, including the first prize of a Lexus IS 250C Sports. The Pin & Win prize draw will take place at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day, Saturday, November 5, 2011.
Fashions on the fields
The 2011 Melbourne Cup Carnival will again see the most stylish race goers in the land vie for top honours in the Myer Fashions on the Field competition.On AAMI Victoria Derby Day, the gents will take centre stage in the Men's Racewear category, competing for the first prize of the use of a Lexus vehicle for a year.
The much coveted Design Award will be awarded on Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, which will see the winner enjoy a year's use of a Lexus vehicle. The Design Award is an invitation-only event that's a platform for designers to showcase their glamorous racewear designs, and for new talent in the fashion world to have their time in the spotlight.
The glamour stakes will be high on Crown Oaks Day, when the national final of the Women's Racewear competition will be held. Women from all over Australia will showcase their impeccable fashion sense at Flemington as they compete for the suitably stunning first prize of a Lexus IS 250C to own.