Past Event Overview
The ASA’s flagship event, the Calcutta Luncheon – proudly sponsored by Gallagher – took place last Friday 1st November and was a huge succes. This event was indeed the perfect way to bring your team and customers together for a great day focused on networking and relaxed entertainment. There was plenty of action for everyone, with a refreshed format and new features this year. Well-known sports commentator and racing expert Nigel Carmody led a short-format discussion. Comedian Peter Helliar provided the laughs, and there were plenty of them. Attendees also had the chance to bid on the favourites for this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Another highlight of this year’s event was the fireside chat with champion jockey Mark Zahra – the winner of the last two Melbourne Cups. Mark rode Gold Trip to victory in 2022 and Without a Fight in 2023, making him one of only nine jockeys in history to win back-to-back Cups.
Time: 12.30pm – 4.30pm
Location: River Room, Level 1 Crown Towers, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
SCHEDULE
- 12.00pm: Networking drinks
- 12.30pm: Luncheon featuring entertainment, Melbourne Cup auction and networking
- 4.30pm: Close of event
Keynote Speaker
Mark Zahra
Jockey
Two Turnbull Stakes victories. Two Caulfield Cups. Two Melbourne Cups… and that’s just in the last four years. Mark Zahra is one of the country’s most accomplished and celebrated Hoops. Mark’s last two years have seen two Melbourne Cups land in the cabinet, piloting Gold Trip (2022) and Without a Fight (2023), the latter becoming just the 12th horse to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double. He is one of only nine jockeys in history to win back-to-back Lexus Melbourne Cups.
Peter Helliar
Comedian
Peter Helliar is a man of many talents. As one Australia’s favourite comedians, he has been performing stand up for more than twenty years, but also a regular fixture on our TV screens, having co-hosted The Project on Network 10 from 2014 through to the end of 2022. He is also the host of Family Feud The Podcast produced for Apple, and host of the very funny podcast You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet. Pete also created and co-produced two series of the award winning It’s A Date for ABC TV, and he wrote, directed and starred in all three seasons of Network 10’s widely loved dramedy How to Stay Married.
MC
Nigel Carmody
Host, Racing.com
Nigel’s affinity with and love of horse racing has seen him take on hosting duties for Seven’s Racing coverage and with the sport’s dedicated channel, Racing.com. Front and centre for major race meetings at iconic tracks including Flemington, Caulfield and The Valley, he has driven the conversation as a host on programs such as The Wrap, Spring Contenders and After The Last.
Sponsors
Snapshot Of This Year’s Event
Over 150 Members and guests joined us at Calcutta Luncheon. Highlights from the day included an insightful, and often hilarious, panel session with some of Australia’s leading jockeys and trainers. This unique session provided a peek behind the scenes of the race that stops a nation and gave the audience a real insight into what it’s like to ride, train and own some of the top horses we all know and love.
