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Thousands of punters let their hair down as they packed racecourses in Sydney and Melbourne for Australia’s biggest race day in three years on Saturday.

Sporting daring outfits, racegoers soaked in the afternoon sun and were in high spirits as they enjoyed the events – with the party set to continue into the night.  

At Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse, thousands turned out for The Everest, one of the biggest races on the Australian horse racing calendar.

The race saw outsider Giga Kick flying home down the outside to beat the heavily-backed Nature Strip on Saturday afternoon.

In Melbourne, despite days of rain and suburban flooding, race-goers rocked up for the $5million Caulfield Cup, the preview race for the Melbourne Cup on November 1, and watched Durston pip Gold Trip to victory.

The party looked set to continue into the night in Melbourne after fans enjoyed the Caulfield Cup in the sunshine on Saturday

The party looked set to continue into the night in Melbourne after fans enjoyed the Caulfield Cup in the sunshine on Saturday

A woman is helped by security in the aftermath of the races at the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne on Saturday, with spirits running high

A woman is helped by security in the aftermath of the races at the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne on Saturday, with spirits running high

Shoes were shed as punters enjoyed the aftermath of the race in Melbourne. Thousands attended the races on a sunny Saturday afternoon

Shoes were shed as punters enjoyed the aftermath of the race in Melbourne. Thousands attended the races on a sunny Saturday afternoon

Punters after the race on Saturday. In the Caulfield Cup, Durston took out the feature event, just pipping out Gold Trip in the final stretch to take out the win in the $5 million contest

Punters after the race on Saturday. In the Caulfield Cup, Durston took out the feature event, just pipping out Gold Trip in the final stretch to take out the win in the $5 million contest

Punters in Melbourne were in high spirits after watching the Caulfield Cup and enjoying Australia's biggest race day for three years in the afternoon sun

Punters in Melbourne were in high spirits after watching the Caulfield Cup and enjoying Australia’s biggest race day for three years in the afternoon sun

In Melbourne, despite days of rain and suburban flooding, race-goers rocked up for the $5million Caulfield Cup, the preview race for the Melbourne Cup on November 1, and watched Durston pip Gold Trip to victory

In Melbourne, despite days of rain and suburban flooding, race-goers rocked up for the $5million Caulfield Cup, the preview race for the Melbourne Cup on November 1, and watched Durston pip Gold Trip to victory

Despite days of rain and suburban flooding, race-goers rocked up for the $5million Caulfield Cup and spirits were high as they enjoyed the event

Despite days of rain and suburban flooding, race-goers rocked up for the $5million Caulfield Cup and spirits were high as they enjoyed the event 

By the time the Cup concluded many racegoers had started to feel the effects of a long day on their feet with heels left laying on the ground and many needing to take a seat on the floor

By the time the Cup concluded many racegoers had started to feel the effects of a long day on their feet with heels left laying on the ground and many needing to take a seat on the floor

Short skirts and sky-high heels were the outfit for the ladies, while the men attempted various forms of suiting at Saturday's races

Short skirts and sky-high heels were the outfit for the ladies, while the men attempted various forms of suiting at Saturday’s races

In the Caulfield Cup, Durston took out the feature event, just pipping out Gold Trip in the final stretch to take out the win in the $5 million contest. 

By the time the Cup concluded many racegoers had started to feel the effects of a long day on their feet with heels left laying on the ground and many needing to take a seat on the floor.

In an array of colours and styles, patrons raced through the turnstiles when gates opened to secure the best spot in the viewing yard. 

Short skirts and sky-high heels were the outfit for the ladies, while the men attempted various forms of suiting. 

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In recent years The Everest has come to rival the Melbourne Cup Carnival as the must-attend day on the racing calendar.

The richest race in the country pits 12 of the best sprinters against each other over 1500m for a prize money purse of $15 million. 

Former jockey Clayton Douglas has only been in the training ranks for 18 months, but the 27-year-old has now won the richest race on turf in the world, with veteran Craig Williams guiding the three-year-old to victory ahead of Private Eye and Mazu.

A woman is helped by security staff in Melbourne in the aftermath of the races at the Caulfield Cup on Saturday afternoon

A woman is helped by security staff in Melbourne in the aftermath of the races at the Caulfield Cup on Saturday afternoon

Not every punter was in a good mood in the aftermath of the race day, which saw thousands of people flock to the races

Not every punter was in a good mood in the aftermath of the race day, which saw thousands of people flock to the races

Spirits were high in the aftermath of the races in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon after punters enjoyed the sun

Spirits were high in the aftermath of the races in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon after punters enjoyed the sun

Owners celebrate after jockey Rachel King rode Rocketing By to victory in the Sydney Stakes at Randwick on The Everest Day

Owners celebrate after jockey Rachel King rode Rocketing By to victory in the Sydney Stakes at Randwick on The Everest Day 

In an array of colours and styles, patrons raced through the turnstiles when gates opened at Royal Randwick to secure the best spot in the viewing yard

In an array of colours and styles, patrons raced through the turnstiles when gates opened at Royal Randwick to secure the best spot in the viewing yard

Short skirts and sky-high heels were the outfit for the ladies, while the men attempted various forms of suiting (pictured, ladies at the Everest in Randwick, Sydney)

Short skirts and sky-high heels were the outfit for the ladies, while the men attempted various forms of suiting (pictured, ladies at the Everest in Randwick, Sydney)

One of the last horses picked to contest the race, Giga Kick produced an explosive finish to reel in his older rivals to give young trainer Clayton Douglas a dream result. 

The $5million Caulfield Cup is the annual lead-in race to the Melbourne Cup, first introduced in 1879.

It has held Group 1 status ever since and is considered a form guide to the ‘race that stops a nation’ on the first Tuesday in November. 

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