Hollywood star’s generosity leaves diners stunned

November 2, 2026 — 5:00am

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx is winning friends around Melbourne, practically becoming a goodwill ambassador for the city.

While many visiting international stars like to fly under the radar while in town, Foxx has been embracing our golf courses and our hospitality scene while in Melbourne from the US for a couple of months filming his new movie, Deadlocked.

He and his team have been regular diners – we hear he is into double figures – at Chris Lucas’ revered Maison Batard at the top end of town.

Rather than hide away in a private room or roped off area, Foxx, who won the best actor Oscar in 2005 for his portrayal of musician Ray Charles in the film Ray, has been very comfortable and approachable on the venue’s elegant terrace.

But the proof of his influence on diners isn’t just in the number of selfies he’s been posing for. Turns out, Foxx is generous to boot.

CBD has been told the movie star has on at least one occasion randomly settled the bill for a nearby table, with the lucky diners only discovering the quiet act of kindness as they went to pay.

Foxx, who is staying at disgraced media mogul Antony Catalano’s St Kilda penthouse, was back at the restaurant in recent days to celebrate the birthday of his partner, Australian fitness instructor Alyce Huckstepp.

In May, it was reported by People magazine that Foxx and Huckstepp, who hails from Canberra, were expecting their first child.

When Foxx isn’t filming or flipping out freebies, he’s been practising his golf swing. The Collateral star has been sharpening his form off the tee with lessons at a public golf course in Melbourne’s sandbelt with a view to lining up in a forthcoming pro-am.

Hopes are still high that he will venture out to Flemington at some stage during the Melbourne Cup carnival, his filming schedule permitting.

If he does, racing, restaurants and a round of golf will make a pretty good Melbourne trifecta for the actor. Visit Victoria take note – he’s a one-man tourist campaign.

Vallance leads the fashion stakes

In days gone by, turning up at the races in the same outfit as another racegoer was a social nightmare.

Now, double-ups are viewed as a case of having shared good taste, which is handy especially as CBD sighted no less than five women wearing the same frock from Ballarat-born designer Rebecca Vallance’s range at Flemington on Saturday.

Every year a dress taps the zeitgeist, and despite it having been just one day into this year’s Cup carnival, ladies and gentlemen, we already have our winner.

The black and white sequin-embellished boucle tweed, mid-length number has all the tricks to turn heads in the right way. A square neckline, fitted bodice, wide straps and cinched waist made it the outfit du jour for attendees in the members’ enclosure, the Birdcage and in executive circles.

Victoria Racing Club chief executive Kylie Rogers was first past the post in the frock. We later spotted former Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage in the design in the Nine marquee, and then saw noted show rider Ali Kent in the Mumm marquee in the same dress.

Moving between the Birdcage and the mounting yard, we spied two more ladies in the same design, which according to Vallance’s website retails for $899.

Luckily, Flemington is a big place and to our knowledge no one’s paths crossed.

If there was a runaway champ in the fashion stakes on the day, we’re tipping it was Vallance, who has always had a great sense of style about her designs.

In recent years she has leant into the racing and stealth-wealth orbits. Linking up with Nicky Hilton Rothschild put her brand on the map among the New York ladies who lunch, while Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, sported Vallance frocks at Royal Ascot this year and last.

In terms of influence, Royal Ascot is the bellwether for elevated racetrack fashion.

Speaking of influence, it also helped that Vallance, who was among the Birdcage flock on Saturday, is mates with an actual supermodel in Helena Christensen, who also wore one of her looks to Flemington.

There was, however, no chance that someone else would be wearing that dress – Christensen’s was custom, of course.

Looking for racing blessings

The annual Racing Fraternity Mass brought racing identities out in force, no doubt all looking for blessings from on high as the Melbourne Cup approaches.

Racing Minister Anthony Carbines was there, and with an election looming, the political class has been looking for all the support and goodwill it can muster.

The Mass, at St Francis’ Church in the CBD, has been held since 1958. Readings were delivered by Carbines and VRC chair Neil Wilson. Moonee Valley Racing Club board member Jim Hogan read the responsorial psalm.

While plenty of names and big race trophies were in the church, we’re not sure the fellow who wandered in about three-quarters of the way through the service and sat down to read a book about Dracula was as interested in the Cup and the week ahead as others present.

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