Fashion race is magic for stylish ladies and Millions bucks

The nation’s racing royalty will converge on the Gold Coast today for the $10 million Magic Millions race day, heralding the start of the racing fashion year.

More than 24,000 people are expected to brave mid-30C ­temperatures at the country’s richest race day, with champagne and freshly shucked oysters on offer at the VIP marquee.

The annual Fashions on the Field competition will have its first state heat at the Gold Coast Turf Club, with the winner flying to Melbourne for the national finals during the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November.

In her second year attending the event as a Myer racing fashion ambassador, Jodi Anasta is looking forward to the colour on offer.

While Anasta will be busy judging both women’s and men’s racewear finals, one visitor will be happy to just soak up the fashion and action of the race day from a different perspective.

Ashley Jarvis is normally found in shorts and polo tops in her role as a stablehand at John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud north of Sydney, but today she will be in trackside finery for a change.

Jarvis will be watching with particular interest one of her ­charges from last year’s sales, Chauffeur, who sold for $1.6m.

The $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic race pits favourite Ours To Keep against such contenders as Goodfella, Invincible Star and Gold Coast favourite Houtzen.

Bought for $28,000 form the southeast Queensland’s Banchory Farm at the Gold Coast March yearling sale, it has since won $256,700 and now has a shot at taking out not only the prizemoney but also a share of the $500,000 Racing Women’s bonus.