Hottest Parties

The Social Pages with Melissa Hoyer

Event: Polo In The City/Park - marquee hosted by Mark & Evette Moran

Venue: Mission Polo Fields, Centennial Parklands

Snapshot: Polo in the City brings a pop of prestige and the ‘Sport of Kings’ (and very rich people) to Sydney. It was an athleisure-wear free zone, which is a change for usual Centennial Park goers. Pommery-fuelled marquees dotted the fields with spectacular riding and ball-bashing skills from some of the world’s best players – with the Pommery-sponsored team finishing victorious.

The marquees were full of fresh seafood, chicken satay sticks, mushroom tarts and lavish lamingtons, with paying marquee guests enjoying the event as well as members of the public watching for free - not just freeloading marquee guests. Let’s face it, any events happening on public land should be egalitarian & open for all.

The list: Mark & Evette Moran, Victoria Morish, Iggy Diamani, Di and Rod Boland, Rick Walton, Charles Billich, Maggie Joye, Angele Belle McSweeney, the newly engaged Rebecca Davies and fiancé Steven Pongrass, Juliet Love, Michelle Walsh (proving you can’t keep a good party girl down even with a broken foot), architect Scott Weston, Andrew Hornery, Vanessa Fennell, choreographer Adam Williams, Zoe and Gary Leonard, Anouk & James Darling, Kate Sorrenti and TV news queen Sandra Sully.

The good: It was refreshing to see guests dressed appropriately, without anyone looking too OTT or garish. Ok, some of the full-on racing outfits didn’t quite fit the mood but most gave their perfect summer floral frocks, wedges, red lips and delicious straw boater hats a huge run. Sydney stores must have run out of chinos and RM Williams for the boys - the uniform du jour.

The whoops: For anyone who chose a spiky stiletto heel on soft grass, this wasn’t the place to be.

The wow: Being able to use the outdoor grounds of one of the most beautiful parks in Australia for such a relaxed, stress-less (okay, except for the players, no doubt) and simply happy day.

The moment: Nothing beats the stomping of the divots (hello Pretty Woman) when guests go onto the field to stomp back down the areas of turf the horses hooves have unsettled. Downtown Abbey eat your heart out!

Bite of the day: The mini hamburgers by Shared Affair you could actually fit in your mouth without having to drop your handbag, spill your glass or need a third hand.

Belle of the Ball: Co-host Evette Moran who oversaw all the interior and design of their marquee looked like a magical angel, waving her wand over guests ensuring all were kept satiated and sustained. How clever was she to have exquisite yellow umbrellas so none of us would burn or boil over. Class act all round.

Quote overheard: ‘I always thought watching polo was just for wankers?’ Indeed not…