Exclusive: Jules Neale arrived at the Melbourne Cup looking red hot and giving an update on family life in Perth with her two kids, as whispers fly that she and ex Lachie Neale could possibly attend the same event.
“I’m just doing the one day and then back to mum life,” she told nine.com.au from inside the G.H Mumm Marquee on Tuesday.
Jules Neale will make her Melbourne Cup debut, but all eyes will be on her for what may be an awkward run in with her ex-husband Lachie Neale. Instagram/@jules_neale
“This is my first Melbourne Cup,” she added.
For Jules, 36, being a part of the day is a real “bucket list” moment.
“I love Melbourne, I hate the cold – but I love Melbourne,” she explained.
“I love coming to these fun events, it’s always like a holiday with the event, so it’s always nice to get away.”
The hairdresser’s appearance at the biggest event in the Spring Racing carnival just three days after her ex-husband, AFL star Lachie Neale attended Derby Day with his new girlfriend Emma Field.
Jules’ big moment arrives
Jules had her own big moment, as she undertook the infamous ‘Tap Tap’ champagne moment.
The highly anticipated, theatrical tradition is hosted by French Champagne house G.H. Mumm. Crowds gathered outside Mumm’s exclusive marquee in Flemington’s VIP Birdcage enclosure as Jules struck the neck of a three-litre bottle of champagne with a ceremonial sabre.
Receiving the honour to perform the ‘Tap Tap’ is a major status symbol and without a doubt Jules has earned it this year.
In her signature elegant style, the sabre strike went off easily and bubbles shot straight through the air. We’ll toast to that!
Jules’ big moment went off without a hitch! Getty Images
After watching what Carrie Bickmore did over the weekend during her ‘Tap Tap’ moment on Saturday’s Derby Day, Jules made sure to devise a plan ahead of time.
“I didn’t realise that you could probably get wet,” she explained.
“I’m gonna try and copy Carrie and do a bit of a ‘tap tap’ then run away.”
Lady in red! She’s ready for her big moment at the Mumm Marquee. Getty Images
Jules is a vision in red
Sharing a glimpse of her look on social media before arriving, the Perth-based hairdresser went for a bold red frock.
The flirty little number hugged her curves and fanned out with a fun feathered detail around the hem, which hit her on the calf.
The look was finished with a matching red headband, and shoes – giving it some real wow factor.
Life in Perth couldn’t be better
For Jules it’s a quick in and out trip, heading back home to Perth to her kids tomorrow.
And while it is a quick trip, she confirmed that things are really going well for her in Perth right now.
Jules said it was just a quick trip from Perth to Melbourne for Cup Day before she returns back to be with her kids. Instagram/@jules_neale
“I’m in the new house with the kids now,” she added.
“We’re settled into our routine, I think next year will be really nice just kind of continuing that.”
Will there be a run-in between Jules and ex Lachie?
While all eyes have been Jules, there will be a lot to talk about with her ex-husband and new partner Emma Field expected to pop in as well or whether they will steer clear to avoid an awkward run-in.
The new couple made their debut over the weekend at Darby Day, giving the most public launch of their relationship to date.
AFL star Lachie Neale has finally made his public debut with new girlfriend Emma Field with a very glamorous appearance at Derby Day. Instagram/@emfield__
Lachie and Emma attempted to keep their relationship under wraps during the beginning, but things went public after the Brisbane Lions won the 2026 AFL Grand Final.
Emma made it clear she was there to support her man in the stands and the couple have since made several declarations of their relationship status online too.
Jules and Lachie split in December 2025, with the AFL player making a public statement about their marriage breakdown during a press conference in January.
At the time rumours of infidelity swirled, and Jules broke her silence and spoke out about her side of the story on the Pretty Sure podcast with Adelle Petropoulos in late August.
Jules and Lachie split last December, but it was only recently she broke her silence on what really went down. Instagram/@prettysure.pod/Getty
The mum-of-two used the platform to “speak her truth” about the alleged cheating scandal that involved her husband, Lachie and her best friend, Tess Crosley, 30.
In the podcast, Jules alleged Crosley and Lachie had an ongoing romantic affair for four months.
While Jules ultimately called time on the marriage in December, she made it clear the cracks had started much earlier.
“It wasn’t the first time for us, which is awful,” she claimed in the interview with Petropoulos.
The mother-of-two explained while it would appear to many that she “packed up and left with the kids” when Lachie confirmed their separation in January 2026, that wasn’t the case.
The two couples were close friends and lived minutes away from each other. L-R: Tess Crosley, Lachie Neale, Ben Crosley, Jules Neale Instagram
Just hours after Jules’ podcast went live, a teaser for Tess’ own tell-all podcast with the Daily Mail went live, with her sharing her side of the story for the first time.
Tess chose to keep the details of her side relatively brief during the one-hour interview, but reflected on the moment the private matter became a national story, describing it as a “really dark time in my life”.
Tess did not confirm this nor reveal any details about the exact nature of her relationship with Lachie, but she did claim she was only friends with the couple for about a year before the scandal unfolded.
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