Cilmi for cup

By Bridget Cook
GABRIELLA Cilmi will do her first Australian performance next month and it will be at one of the biggest events on Casey’s calendar – the TAB Cranbourne Cup.
And the performance could not be more fitting with Gabriella’s latest album named ‘Ten’ and the Cup falls on the 10th of the 10th month, 2010.
To add to the excitement, the six time ARIA award winner will also celebrate her 19th birthday on the same day.
Cranbourne Turf Club secured the international artist last week. Music download business Guvera is presenting Gabriella, along with Country Racing Victoria and the Cranbourne Turf Club.
Chief Executive Neil Bainbridge said the Gabriella is the niece of Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce member Toni Van Den Broek – who put the Turf Club in contact with Gabriella’s management.
“Cranbourne Turf Club is delighted to secure a major, international artist like Gabriella,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“It’s fantastic and will only add to what already is great day. It provides another dimension to a feature event of the Spring Racing Carnival.”
Gabriella will perform a concert for about an hour following the last race on Cranbourne Cup Day.
Mr Bainbridge said the Cranbourne Turf Club hoped she would sing the national anthem before thew cup as well.
While she grew up in Dandenong, Gabriella now lives in London. She became known internationally for her soulful song ‘Sweet About Me’, which sold more than two million copies, was top 10 in 16 countries, spent 37 consecutive weeks in the UK single chart in 2008 and was viewed over 20 million times on YouTube.
Her album ‘Lessons To Be Learned’ went top 10 in 12 countries, notching up close to a million sales.
She has also won six ARIA awards including Best Female, Best Album and Single of the Year.
She released her second album ‘Ten’ this year, which features her hit single ‘On a Mission’.
Mr Bainbridge encouraged people to pre-purchase tickets to the cup, with a limit of 10,000 available.
“We normally get about 8000,” he said. “But Gabriella could draw a lot more. She has the ability to draw not only people from Casey but also metro areas.”
Tickets to the TAB Cranbourne Cup Day can be purchased by contacting the club on 5996 1300.