Editor’s letter

Even a giant blister on my heel can’t spoil the memory of a magical weekend in Sydney for the Colgate Optic White Stakes Day, a glam race event at Royal Randwick Racecourse. It really was the stuff that dreams are made of from beginning to end.

As a busy working mum, waking up in a hotel bed big enough to starfish in was treat enough. Honestly, the Seven Dwarves could have slept in that bed comfortably, but I had it all to myself and it was heaven!

I opened the curtains and Sydney was totally showing off – the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The forecast was 30 degrees, so I headed out early for a morning walk to the Opera House and marvelled at the harbour’s beauty, before retreating (drenched!) to the sanctuary of my hotel to get race-ready. Who knew it could be hot at 8am?

I was lucky enough to accompany four lovely competition winners – Tania and Carl from Invercargill, and sisters Tracey from Te Aroha and Carina from Kawakawa Bay. Colgate Optic White brand ambassador Matilda Rice and her fiancé Art Green came too. Apart from being told we needed to wear black or white with a splash of red, the rest of the day was a mystery, which made it even more exciting! On our way to Randwick, we were like giggly college kids off to a ball.

At the track, we were lucky enough to be taken to the swish – and thankfully airconditioned – marquee of our friends from Colgate Optic White. Working in magazines, we meet our fair share of celebrities, but all of us – Art and Matilda included – were slightly in awe of the celeb-topleb ratio. We were totally surrounded by Sydney stars!

But despite all the VIPs in attendance and coming up $25 ahead on my bets, it was spending time with our winners that made the day so special. We beaver away on this magazine, so to take time out to share such a special event with Woman’sDay readers Tania, Carl, Tracey and Carina was wonderful. It was great to meet you guys! Stay in touch.