Cape refreshed by racing’s sea of blue
● Cape Town might be drained by drought, but yesterday Kenilworth racecourse was transformed into a sea of blue and white to mark the running of the 157th L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
This most stylish of racing events, which for the second consecutive year spanned two days, saw the glam set converge on the racecourse grounds to swill elegant Brut Classique sparkling wine and Jean Roi rosé from the main Anthonij Rupert wine estate in Franschhoek.
A feature of the event, which reached its climax during the main race, with its coveted R1.5-million purse, were the floral arrangements in shades of blue that peppered areas of what was called the Style Lounge Village.
And although the drought and the long, hot summer posed a challenge for the organisers, they managed to source gardens of agapanthus and trees to create the stylish atmosphere, which this year featured eye-catching bird motifs. One celeb who took to the theme with gusto was radio and TV personality Liezel van der Westhuizen, who pitched in floral pants and a bodysuit designed by Cape Town outfit Love Angela by OnlyOco.
“This might be a bit crazy or OTT, but you know me, I just have fun with it,” said the giraffe-tall blonde about the floral arrangement featuring real flowers worn atop her head to finish off her ensemble. Less outrageous was popular actress Nomzamo Mbatha’s dramatic Vanessa Gounden hand-painted silk ensemble. She arrived with her man, TV presenter Maps Maponyane.
Elsewhere I spotted Alist regular Basetsana Kumalo with her elder sister, Johanna Mukoki. Former Springbok captain John Smit and his wife, Candice, were spotted taking in the scene in the VIP tent while Bonang Matheba made a dramatic entrance wearing a dazzling creation by young designer Orapeleng Modutle. She was on her own, leaving gossipmongers guessing whether rapper AKA’s recent Twitter announcement that the couple had split was true or just another publicity stunt.
I told Bonang I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t ask her if the tweet was true, to which she turned to me and answered: “All I have to say is: ‘Happy new year.’ ”
Expresso TV presenter Katlego Maboe was there with his girlfriend, Monique Muller, while someone who seems to be a Cape Town horse-racing fixture is cricketing bad boy Herschelle Gibbs.
Elsewhere, Cindy Nell, arriving with her husband, Clive Roberts, was wearing an ensemble of indigo flecked with white lace from Port Elizabeth designer Jason Kieck.
And what did we nosh on in the hot Cape Town sun? A smorgasbord, from burgers and dim sum to salad and sushi in the general lounge area, while the plusher VIP spots like the Stud Club overlooking the track and the even more exclusive Stud Members Club featured grandiose harvest tables serving local and seasonal fare.