Longines - Melbourne Cup Carnival
As the Official Timekeeper of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Longines continues a b partnership with the Victorian Racing Cup approaching its twelfth year. The Swiss watch brand is the Title Partner of the Longines Mackinnon Stakes, won this year by British trainer Andrew Balding and his star gallop Side Glance and jockey, Jamie Spencer. Owner Sheik Fahad Al Thani is one of the luckiest visiting owners to ever come to Melbourne as for the third consecutive year, saw one of his horses win a major prize at the Spring Carnival. In 2011, Sheikh Fahad's Dunaden won the Melbourne Cup, Australia's race that stops the nation, Longines was thrilled to see the same colours win the Longines Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday.
A key highlight in the Longines' Carnival Program is the partnership of the international Group 1 Race on AAMI Victorian Derby Day, the Longines Mackinnon Stakes. On Saturday, Jamie Spencer on Side Glance won the Longines Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. The Longines timepiece trophies were presented by Longines General Manager Australia, Amelia Michael.
Saturday, a crowd of 100,000 explodes out of the start gate as the first race meet on the 2013 Melbourne Cup Calendar. Derby Day, a day of tradition presents the perfect scene for race-goers with four elite Group One races run at Flemington and mirrors an equal celebration of high fashion race-wear. An undisputed institution of the Melbourne Cup Carnival is the 'Myer Fashions on the Field' held at Flemington and is pronounced as Australia's largest outdoor fashion event. Amelia Michael presented the winner of the Longines Award for Elegance, Louise McDonald, with a sparkling timepiece of the Longines DolceVita Collection. Amelia Michael, Longines General Manager Australia also awarded the Men's Racewear winner, and runner-up an elegant Longines timepiece.
As a proud partner of the most prestigious flat races in the world, Longines was delighted to launch Conquest Classic - a collection of timepieces to be worn amidst the excitement of the parade rings at Chantilly, Hong Kong, Royal Ascot and Flemington. The official Watch of the 2013 Carnival was a chronograph from the new Conquest Classic Collection in steel, fitted with a self-winding calibre.