By Patrick Avenell

The eight-day extravaganza that is the Melbourne Cup Carnival launches into racing tomorrow at Flemington with Derby Day, Australia’s only all-Group day of racing. It’s not just a big week for race fans, it’s also the biggest week of the year for TCL, which is celebrating its eighth year partnering with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC).

TCL has been using the Carnival, which includes AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, Crown Oaks Day and Emirates Stakes Day, to showcase its wares since Glen Boss saluted on Makybe Diva in 2005.

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In addition to fitting out the racetrack with more than 400 TV screens, including five TCL-branded super screens, TCL places signage around the track to capture the attention over the 100,000-plus spectators at Flemington and the millions of Australians tuning in to watch the big races unfold.

As has become tradition, TCL will be the naming rights sponsor of a race on Oaks Day — or Ladies’ Day — when the TCL Smart 3D TV Plate jumps in mid-afternoon as Race 5 on the card.

“This relationship revolves around our ability to highlight the performance and sleek design of our products to a captivated and influential audience while simultaneously delivering national brand exposure during an iconic and quintessentially Australian sporting event,” said TCL Electronics Australia GM Sunny Xiang.

“It is important that we continually communicate the footprint and investment we have made in the Australian market. To play such an important role in enhancing the fan experience during ‘the race that stops a nation’ is one such way we will continue to change perceptions and build our brand equity in this important market.”

This will be the first Melbourne Cup Carnival for new TCL national sales manager Nick Redmond. This appointment was made as part of a shake-up of TCL Australian structure, which included former GM Paul Widdis becoming a director of the company.

A TCL-branded superscreen at Flemington.

Patrick’s Derby Day Tips:

Race 5 — Longines Mackinnon Stakes

4 December Draw
7 Ocean Park
3 Alcopop

Race 6 — AAMI Victoria Derby

5 Hvasstan
3 Honorius
4 Super Cool

And here’s a classic video of Makybe Diva winning her third Melbourne Cup — spot the TCL signage at 2:18: