Mink and manure

Socialite Thandi Kupe received a nomination for having the best hat at the event. Picture: Kevin Petersen/City Press

Kenilworth racecourse hosts stylish start to 2013

The cream of South African socialites, fashionistas and celebrities descended on Cape Town’s Kenilworth racecourse for the 152nd L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate event in the Mother City yesterday.

The exclusive race, which saw guests sticking to the traditional blue-and-white colour scheme, is the first high-profile event on this year’s social calendar.

The crème de la crème mingled in the exclusive Stud Club marquee that attracted celebrities such as South African-born, US-based model Nicola Breytenbach (who rocked a sexy, white Gavin Rajah mini, Brian Atwood shoes and Inga Savits clutch), Dagbreek presenter and 2011 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate best hat winner Kia Johnson (who dazzled in a lengthy, cream Victor K creation, topped with a vintage brown hat from The Little Hattery), celebrity commentator and TV personality Jennifer Su (in an eye-catching navy-blue dress, not forgetting her famous fetish for hats), as well as Top Billing presenter and TV producer, Jo-Ann Strauss (who looked stunning in a floor-length blue-and-white Stefania Morland gown).

TV presenter and model Shashi Naidoo (one of the best dressed and best hat judges), Elana Afrika, Roxy Louw and Expresso presenter Leigh-Anne Williams (in a sexy vintage Kluck GDT, 1950s-inspired frock) were all in attendance.

The perfect summer Cape Town day saw guests enjoying wine, canapés, fine food and cocktails.

Regarded as one of South Africa’s most exclusive annual horse racing events, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate is a more traditional and less frantic version of the annual J&B Met race, due to take place in Cape Town on Saturday, February 2, also at Kenilworth.

A highlight was seeing newly crowned Miss South Africa Marilyn Ramos in attendance – her first Cape Town visit since she was a teenager, she said. Ramos donned a navy-blue Anel Botha frock with a lace-embroidered collar.

“I love being back in Cape Town after so long,” said Ramos, who is already preparing for the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.

All the stops were pulled out for the best dressed and best hat fashion event, with Capetonian Ritza Van Rensburg and Debbie Nicholls walking away with the respective titles.

Variety Club claimed this year’s main horse race, while Jackson came in second place and Pomodoro was third.

Once the formalities came to a close, guests were entertained by the UK’s DJ Lora (whose fans include Sir Paul McCartney and Kim Kardashian), as well as 5FM’s DJ Fresh, as they partied the night away in style.

- Clayton Morar