BY JAMES WILKINSON

While most of the Melbourne Cup action was on the track this week, Sydney’s fashion and celebrity set partied at the city’s newest hotspot Porteno, for an event called ‘Foxes and Hounds’, a collaboration between AZB Creative and Yakusan.

Fashion off the field: in the action at Foxes and Hounds

Yakusan’s Creative Director Mark Ward said the inaugural Foxes and Hounds was all about decadent food and wine, designer fashion shows and great entertainment in a luxurious setting.

“This year was the inaugural launch of Foxes and Hounds and it kicked off with a culmination of the best fashion – including shows featuring the best of Alex Perry, Jayson Brunsdon and Arthur Galan AG – alongside design, gastronomy from the Porteno team and mixology with our drinks partners,” he said.

Ward’s company, Yakusan, also co-owned by Gilles Merry, specialises in mixology and drinks on the day were crafted in association with the event’s partners Absolut, Stella Artois, Chivas, Mumm, Saint and Sinner wine, Santa Vittoria and Cointreau.

This was alongside food from the Porteno team, led by owners and chefs Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz, the brains and talent behind tapas den Bodgea.

Porteno’s stars: Elvis Abrahanowicz and Ben Milgate

Guests were served Argentinean-inspired cocktails on arrival and a three-course lunch from the restaurant’s Argentinean grill including suckling pig.

There was just the slightest bit of pressure to glam it up on the day, with a best-dressed competition judged by Perry, Donny Galella, Who Weekly’s Glynis Trail-Nash and model/presenter Ali Mutch. The best dressed lady on the day won a new season collection dress from Jayson Brunsdon, while the most-stylish man won a Herringbone suit. The runners up for best dressed prizes included Santos Wish bracelets and MOR cosmetic hampers.

“Style and attention to detail was paramount with our first Foxes and Hounds event and I feel we all delivered it wrapped up in a dose of cheekiness,” said AZB Creative Director Alex Zabotto-Bentley.

The creators: Alex Zabotto-Bentley and Mark Ward

Zabotto-Bentley is best known for not only being a leading creative director in the events industry, but from his former label Fashion Assassin and as a guest judge on TV show Project Runway.

Ward, whose company was also responsible for the SOHNYE09 party at the Sydney Opera House on December 31 last year, said expectations are already high for the second Foxes and Hounds event next year.

“The day went amazingly well and we hope that it will develop into the leading entertainment fixture for race days around the country,” Ward said.

Foxes and Hounds was Porteno’s second big event within a week, after the venue hosted last week’s Time Out Sydney Bar Awards.