The Mornington Airbnb at the centre of racing’s most infamous lockdown party has relisted as a “nursery of Melbourne Cup champions”, also offering a discounted rate for apprentice jockeys.

The property made headlines in August 2021, when five jockeys gathered there in breach of Covid rules. Mark Zahra, Jamie Kah (now Melham), Ben Melham, Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray were each banned for three months and missed the Spring Carnival.

Their results since make for a compelling sales pitch for the secluded Mornington Peninsula retreat. Zahra won the 2022 and 2023 Melbourne Cups, Jamie Melham took the 2025 Cup on Half Yours, and Brown stormed to victory this week on Point of Law.

The Pakistan Star has viewed the listing and can confirm the update is leaning right into the property’s history. Billed as “Cup-proven”, the multi-level property now offers a “Champions Package”: stay two nights, ride the Melbourne Cup winner.

Host Sandra Kellaway said the response among licensed racing personnel had been immediate.

“We’re immensely proud of the property’s alumni and what they’ve gone on to achieve in Australia’s biggest race. Four of the last five Melbourne Cups have been won by someone we’ve hosted,” she said.

“That Frankel thing that Ethan rode, what a fair dinkum monster. And we were very pleased to see Ben secure the quinella for us on Zahrann,” Kellaway added.  

This masthead understands that the house rules now read “Parties permitted/encouraged”.

More to follow.