The Lunch

The Cox Plate Lunch is now into its’ fourth year and has quickly established itself as the must attend event of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

The lunch celebrates what the 2040club believes to be Australia’s greatest race – the W S Cox Plate. The lunch is held annually the Friday before the Cox Plate and is the final word before the big race. This year it falls on Friday the 21st of October 2011.

In 2011 Sport Radio National’s Shane Anderson will host an all star line up. We are ecstatic to have international racing superstar Francesca Cumani accept our invitation to return to this years’ lunch. Apparently she wasn’t offended by Miracle’s behavior last year! With lifelong racing experience gained from all around the world, Francesca has been a highlight of our carnival over the last five years and we feel privileged to have her on board again.

And back on board for his third lunch is Australia’s biggest bookmaker Tom Waterhouse. The son of Australia’s first lady Gai, and bookmaker Robbie, Tom represents the fourth generation of Waterhouse bookmakers. His knowledge of form and the punt are second to none and we are sure he’ll prove a big hit amongst the punters at this year’s lunch.

The panel at last years' Cox Plate Lunch - Miracle, Steve Moran, Simon Marshall and Francesca.

And of course it wouldn’t be a Cox Plate Lunch without larrikin Miracle Mal Johnston. A winner himself as a jockey when he won on the mighty Kingston Town, the man who made up his own nickname, is sure to be peaking again for this year’s Cox Plate Lunch!

Again the event will be held at the reputable Atlantic at South Wharf. Located on the pier by the docklands, it’s a cracking setting for what promises to be another fantastic day.

Sir Patrick Hogan and Miracle Mal Johnston share a laugh in 2011.

Again we’ll be auctioning some fantastic items at the lunch with all proceeds raising funds going to worthwhile charities. We’d be grateful for any item donations at this point.

For first timers, we really do try and be different to the normal business lunch. We try and keep things as relaxed and casual as we can. So save the bag of fruit for race day and come in whatever you feel comfortable in.

Finally, with so much in store for this year’s Cox Plate Lunch the whole day just wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the fantastic support given to us by our sponsors and 2040club preferred partners. A special thank to our major sponsor New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing as well as our support sponsor Tom Waterhouse Online Betting.