Keisha Castle-Hughes ready for the races

Keisha Castle-Hughes will have her eyes on hats and hemlines when she attends Cup Day at Riccarton racecourse tomorrow. The actor who found fame with Whale Rider at age 13 is the special guest judge at the Fashion in the Field competition and is hoping to see some head-turning outfits among the sell-out crowd. But she doesn't want to see too much leg.

 

"One of the biggest thing is if you are entering into Fashion in the Field ... is to watch-out for hemlines. They can't be too short. Once you've had a few champagnes the hemline sometimes gets a bit shorter so it's always best to start with it bit longer," Castle-Hughes says with a laugh. "I'll be looking for people whose outfit and entire ensemble embodies the feeling of Riccarton Cup and people who aren't afraid to be a bit bold. Kiwis are quite reserve dressers and so it's a really exciting day where people can really go all out," says Castle-Hughes, who has chosen to wear a bright pink fascinator with a skirt and top designed by Auckland designer Natalie Chan for her Riccarton debut. "A hat is absolutely essential – a hat or a fascinator. And I think the bigger the better," the 24-year-old says. Castle-Hughes admits that since becoming a mum – she has a seven-year-old daughter, Felicity – her fashion sense has changed. "Growing up I always envisioned that once I became an adult I would dress wonderfully everyday and be completely stylish but once you become a mum that all goes out the window and practicality kicks in and you spend a lot more time in hooded sweatshirts with pockets and sneakers so that you can run around." It makes the occasions when the actor, who splits her time between Los Angeles and Auckland, can get dress up extra special. "I love an occasion to dress up. It makes you feel good as a woman." When it comes to picking what horses to bet on, Castle-Hughes won't be turning to the form guide for help. She will be making her selections based on which names she likes – a formula, she says, that has worked well for her in the past. "You have to pick a horse's name that somehow relates to you, whether it's a nice bottle of wine that you like, it's a shop that you like shopping at, or your childhood best friend's name. It will usually work out." A sell-out crowd is expected at Riccarton racecourse for the 151st running of the New Zealand Cup and the MetService is forecasting a high of 20 degrees, although showers and a southwest change could dampen festivities later in the day. Motorists are being warned there could be traffic delays on the roads around the racecourse, particularly when the gates open at 9am and at the end of the day.