Hollywood heavyweight Matt Damon has brought a dose of A-list glamour to Sydney’s biggest race day, stepping out at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse for the 70th TAB Golden Slipper on Saturday.
The Good Will Hunting and Bourne franchise star cut a sharp figure on arrival, dressed in a tailored suit with a yellow tie and dark sunglasses as he made his way into the track before being escorted to a private dining area.
Damon quickly became one of the standout names among a packed crowd, with thousands flocking to Rosehill for the prestigious meeting, while Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis was also spotted trackside enjoying the action with friends.
But Damon was not just there as a spectator.
The 53-year-old has quietly built a connection to Australian racing in recent years and holds part-ownership in racehorse Are You Kidding, trained by Leah Gavranich, with fellow actor Daniel MacPherson also part of the ownership group.
The horse had been expected to run at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day before being scratched earlier in the week, denying Damon the chance to have a runner on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Hollywood star Matt Damon attends Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens, adding global celebrity presence to Sydney’s biggest race meet
Damon arrives in suit and sunglasses before being escorted to private dining area among thousands of racegoers
Damon is part-owner of racehorse Are You Kidding, which was scratched earlier in the week before race day
It is not the first time the Hollywood star has experienced the highs of racing in Australia.
Damon tasted success in January last year when his other horse, Dale, broke its maiden in Tamworth, giving the Oscar winner his first victory as an owner in the country.
The three-year-old gelding, trained by Paul Messara and Gavranich, had previously placed twice before finally saluting, earning more than $30,000 in prize money.
The horse’s name carries a personal story.
Trainer Messara revealed the unusual backstory behind the name during an interview, explaining how the idea originated from a late-night call out of Los Angeles.
‘It’s a bit of a long story really,’ Messara said.
‘It was a late night over in LA and I get a phone call saying we’ve had this great idea and we want to buy a horse, but the stipulation is it must be called Dale.’
‘The story goes that basically Matt and his daughter bonded during her teenage years watching the movie Step Brothers, starring the two characters Dale and Brennan.’
Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis and cricket personality Grace Hayden were also spotted trackside enjoying major race day atmosphere with friends at Rosehill Gardens
James McDonald breaks Group 1 record at Rosehill, surpassing Damien Oliver with 130th victory in historic ride
Damon’s growing ties to Australian racing mirror his broader connection to the country, where he has spent extended periods with his family and formed close friendships.
The actor regularly stays in Byron Bay, where his long-time friend Chris Hemsworth is based, and has been a familiar face at local events, from AFL matches to the Ekka in Brisbane.
His connection to Australia began during a deeply personal period following the death of his father, Kent Damon, in 2017.
‘After my dad died, we moved down there for four months and just went and camped all over the place,’ Damon said.
‘And just … I think because maybe he had never been, and it just felt like a place to go to make memories with my kids.’
The trips have since become a yearly ritual for Damon, his wife Luciana Barroso and their four daughters, with the family often choosing to spend the American summer in Australia.
‘Then every year we would return, even back during the pandemic. We were down there for about six months, and it’s just like a second home to us,’ he said.
‘We just love it and we love the people and everything about it.’
‘We just have so many friends down there, honestly. I mean 30, 40 people. Family, friends, just so many people that we love to go see.’
While Damon soaked up the atmosphere at Rosehill, history was unfolding on the track.
Champion jockey James McDonald delivered a record-breaking performance, first equalling and then surpassing the Group 1 wins mark previously held by Damien Oliver.
McDonald brought up his 130th Group 1 victory aboard Autumn Boy, with his wife Katelyn Mallyon and their children watching on trackside as he etched his name into the record books.
Speaking moments after the milestone, McDonald said: ‘I didn’t come to the races wanting to break records. I wanted to come and ride winners.’
‘It’s never been front of mind – I came here and do a job and go home happy to my girls.’
He added with a smile: ‘I’ll get to 200 – you watch.’
