Flemington Racecourse’s exclusive Birdcage enclosure is even more decadent this year with the marquees getting ready to pour – or shower – the champagne and dole out caviar at the Melbourne Cup Carnival. With cost of living pressures appearing to ease and inflation at its lowest level since 2021, the purse strings have been loosened in the extravagant tents constructed each year at Flemington. The Penfolds marquee is pouring 2020 Grange at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Credit: Eddie Jim At the unveiling of the branded marquees on Thursday morning, G.H. Mumm literally showered guests with champagne, Tabcorp shot confetti out of canons and Lexus put on a fireworks display from its first-floor balcony.
The Birdcage’s exclusive marquees are invitation-only, but Victorian Racing Club members can enter the general enclosure, and the general public can buy their way into the VRC’s own Lucky’s marquee for $1785 a pop. Tickets are already sold out for the first three days of the Carnival. Inside the red-and-white check the marquee of champagne house G.
H. Mumm, which has featured a swimming pool and a full-size yacht in previous marquees, has recreated the interior of a private jet. Loading The faux jet is not serving your typical airline food.
Instead, luxury butcher Victor Churchill is supplying steak frites made from wagyu beef, a last-minute replacement after Mumm cut ties with Reine & La Rue following restaurateur Alan Yazbek’s charge for displaying a Nazi symbol at a .