Life's tough for Italian crooner Patrizio Buanne. It was even tougher for the panting women vying for his affections in the moshpit at the VRC Oaks Club lunch at Crown yesterday.

Only a handful received a rose. Only a few an autograph and kiss on the hand. Only one lucky Tania Barbaro received his sweaty towel and teaser: "Do you want to give it to me when I have a shower?"

One woman became so overcome ;; a hot flush? that she rubbed the bottom of a photographer. Joining Sonia Kruger as joint MC, Fashions on the Field host Carson Kressley summed it up: "You could cut the oestrogen with a knife."

That's because Buanne has enough testosterone to topple the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He has rewritten the romance manual with his piercing blue eyes and seductive songs, from Let's Make Love to You're My World. He croons and they swoon. He makes every woman feel like the one, gushing to the fillies and mares: "Everybody, you look breathtakingly beautiful."

Buanne would not really want to be passed a towel by all the 1350 women at the Oaks Day warm-up. Well, maybe Rachel Hunter, the international babe flavouring Flemington as a guest of Lavazza.

Everyone got to see Buanne gyrate and feign a strip tease during his set, but not everyone had their photo taken with him backstage. Ann Pea***** arranged a group shot with Patti and Lauren Newton, Tottie Goldsmith, Diane Dunleavy and Jane Kennedy, eliciting this from Buanne: "This is my dream shot." I can see it now on his bedside table.

The stallion will be at Oak's Day today.

Source: The Age (Australia)