Awesome? Astounding? Or just plain head-scratching.
Ah yes, there were plenty of reasons to raise eyebrows, drop jaws or simply gasp on the green turf at Greyville racecourse in Durban on Saturday.
And it was all thanks to “Marvels of Mzansi”, this year’s theme for the 129th running of the Durban July handicap, which gave local celebville and a smattering of the nation’s prominent identities an open field to play dress-up.
One of the first out the fashion stakes gates was race-day veteran Jessica Nkosi, who swanned in swathed in a delicate pink and brown gown by Namibian designer Ruberto Scholtz.
“This is our national flower. I love how beautiful, tender and delicate it is,” said the woman who stops traffic at the race day every year.
Minutes later, in walks DA leader John Steenhuisen and his wife Terry Beaumont.
So, national dialogue? I ask. “We’re not talking about that today. The only dialogue I am interested in today is the race,” said the minister of agriculture in the GNU.
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Jessica was one of about 50,000 fashionistas, partygoers and punters expected to turn up on the track for the race day, offering a R5m purse for the first thoroughbred past the finish line in race seven.
And while all eyes were on the track at 4pm to find out whether favourite, Eight on Eighteenth, would cap off a hat trick following wins at the Cape Town Met and the Cape Derby earlier this year, it was the fillies and colts and everyone in between showing up in their finery off the course which caught my attention.
Away from the grandstands and through the tunnel snaking beneath the track I counted 10 marquees pitched up at what is called the VIP Village, while further down, another eight tents for jollers could be found at the golf course part of the precinct.
At the entrance I thought I was seeing double when I spotted 2025 A-Lister Zanele Potelwa in an architectural gown by Otis Seflo that looked vaguely similar to Jessica’s.“ Oh, wow, Jessica Nkosi? I love how we are thinking along the same line as the queen of the July,” said the Hotspot Seli presenter.
At the Gushima marquee I bumped into someone I recently outed as a glamorous gatecrasher - artist AzureDé - who was wearing an eye-catching gown, also by Otis Seflo.
“I wanted something that’s soft but powerful. Pearls are known as the softest gem but also resistant to stress” she explained.
My pick for the day’s most magnificent would have to be makeup queen Mihlali Ndamase, who shimmered in Sihle Masango. “This is inspired by the riches pf South Africa - gold and the Ndebele culture,” explained the influencer.
Those looking for a comedic respite from all the bling and betting were well served by a golden ticket from Savanna Premium Cider to hang out with funny folk like Celeste Ntuli, Mpho Popps and Moshe Ndiki at the Neat Speakeasy perched in the Chaise Lounge marquee.
The speakeasy was part of what the brand called a “Weekend of Marvels”, which kicked off on Friday night at a sprawling 10-bedroom pad overlooking the Indian ocean in Salt Rock, anointed the Savanna Manor.
While there was a slight chill in the air, guests including Mzansi’s cutest celeb couple, Sandile Mahlangu and Mbali Nkosi, and actor Zamani Mbatha, relished the plush surrounds, which featured DJ Zinhle on the turntable and a sit-down meal conjured up by Lebogang Tlokana, who is best known as The Funny Chef’.
What can we expect? I wondered.
“You’re about to find out…” answered the Pretoria-based professional chef just before we were led into the mansion’s dining room.
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We relished an entrée of Panko crumbed prawns with garlic aioli (those with a seafood allergy were catered for with succulent black field mushrooms with herb couscous with goat’s milk gouda) while the mains were roasted beef sirloin (a little too well-done for my liking) with a cider-infused jus (the dish’s real star) and chargrilled broccolini, glazed carrots and a potato pave.
But I would wager that the chef was a bit too busy cracking funnies because the dessert, Lady Fingers soaked in lemon syrup with a lemon cheesecake filling, was underwhelming.
Back to the track, and if you’re the betting type, you’ll want to know that The Real Prince was first past the post.
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