COX PLATE 2026: FLEMINGTON SET FOR A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME SPRING
Melbourne, get ready for a Ladbrokes Cox Plate like no other.
The 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Spring Luncheon took place yesterday inside Flemington’s iconic Committee Room, bringing together racing, sport, media and fashion for an elegant trackside celebration and the beginning of a truly unique chapter in Australian racing history.
Hosted by Clint Stanaway and former Miss Universe Australia Moraya Wilson, the luncheon officially turned attention towards a Spring Racing Carnival that will see one of the sport’s greatest traditions temporarily find a new home.
For the first and only time, the legendary Ladbrokes Cox Plate will be staged at Flemington, moving from its famous Moonee Valley home while the racecourse undergoes its transformation.
It is a significant moment for Melbourne racing. For one year only, two of the sport’s most recognisable names — the Cox Plate and Flemington — will come together, creating a running of the race that will stand apart in its history.
Against the unmistakable Flemington backdrop, special guests gathered trackside alongside the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate trophy, with an impressive mix of sporting, media and fashion identities in attendance.
Guests included Dermott Brereton, Matt Guelfi, Callum Wilkie, Brodie Ryan, Brodie Harper, Bailey Scott and Bella Henry, alongside Darcy Cameron and Adriana Guevara Paez, Sam Williamson and Linnea Lindberg.
And, naturally, where there is Spring Racing in Melbourne, there is fashion.
Among the standout arrivals was Adriana Guevara Paez, partner of Collingwood footballer Darcy Cameron, who stepped out in a custom creation by Melbourne designer Jason Grech, styled by celebrity stylist Alicia Marshall.
The story behind the dress was almost as striking as the finished look.
With only overnight to create the piece, Grech designed the dress especially for the occasion, working alongside Marshall to bring Adriana’s vision to life in an extraordinary turnaround.
For Adriana and Darcy, however, the luncheon represented more than a return to Melbourne’s social scene.
With their baby now three months old, the couple revealed it was the first time they had stepped out together without their little one.
Adriana said she was a very relaxed mother and felt good to have the opportunity to dress up, step out with Darcy and enjoy the celebrations with everyone.
It was a glamorous return to trackside life and a fitting occasion for a new mother enjoying a rare day out during one of Melbourne’s most anticipated times of the year.
Celebrity stylist Alicia Marshall was also responsible for styling Anna Staples, Alex Pike and Lexie Brant, with the luncheon offering an early glimpse into the fashion direction Melbourne can expect this Spring Racing Carnival.
Taking inspiration from what was seen trackside at Royal Ascot, Marshall predicts the 2026 season will embrace a noticeably bolder and brighter aesthetic.
Expect strong reds and vivid pinks to dominate, while polka dots are set to make their presence felt across the carnival.
And when it comes to millinery, subtlety may be taking a back seat.
Big, statement headpieces are expected to be a defining feature of Spring Racing fashion, bringing drama, scale and personality back to the trackside wardrobe.
For a Cox Plate breaking with tradition for one extraordinary year, perhaps it is only fitting that the fashion intends to do exactly the same.
The horses may be racing at a different track, the colours may be brighter and the headpieces bigger, but the sense of occasion surrounding one of Australia’s most celebrated races remains unmistakable.
For one spring and one spring only, Flemington becomes home to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
For tickets please visit https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/
Written by Melinda Sullivan
Photography by Fiona Hamilton
