Scorching Heat at Adelaide Cup Fails to Deter Racegoers

EXTREME weather may have affected crowd numbers but racegoers were happy to turn up the heat at yesterday's Adelaide Cup.About 12,500 attended the Morphettville meeting - 4500 less than the expected 17,000 and 6500 fewer than last year's 19,000.However, enthusiasm was high and punters dressed to suit the 37C forecast. This was surpassed at 3pm when the mercury climbed to 38.4C ahead of Norsqui's victory in the main race.Dress codes were relaxed due to the heat and many men decided to forgo a tie. However, some still chose to wear one - albeit with smart shorts to keep cool.The Myer Fashions on the Field competition was hotly contested, with 120 women dressing to impress.Entrants were required to dress for four seasons in one day.In scorching summer weather they needed to wear an outfit which illustrated autumn/winter trends which could also be worn in the springtime should they win and be required to represent the state at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.Floral prints and brocades were popular, as were peplum waists, with many choosing neon brights and metallics.The winner, CFS regional prevention officer Jennifer Marsh, 37, of Naracoorte, wore a silver dress with peplum detailing which she accessorised with safety-cone orange pieces including suede pumps from Myer and a headpiece she had made herself from curtain fabric and homewares."I bought the dress online for $18 and made the headpiece from trivets that you put hot pots on in the kitchen," she said. "I wanted to stand out from the crowd."Ms Marsh, who came second runner-up in the competition in 2011, said she was thrilled to win."I like getting dressed up to go to the races because I wear RM Williams boots and man pants to work ... I'm on the uniform committee so I'm working for something that's a bit female-friendly for the operational staff."The boys at work think it's pretty funny (we won)."Myer ambassador and judge Laura Dundovic, who wore an Aurelio Costarella dress with a burgundy Gregory Ladner floral headpiece, praised the entrants' fashion sense."You make it look comfortable on stage," she said, referring to the extreme weather."There is a great sense of individuality but you are all on-trend - with a different (on-trend) element in every outfit."The weather was no deterrent for loyal race-goer Lauren-Jade Ryan, of Kensington Gardens, who frocked up with her nine-month old daughter Ashleigh Welch."We go to the Adelaide Cup every year as well as the Melbourne Cup," she said."I always love getting dressed up for the day."