July 25, 2014
by Ross Stanley
Saturday’s season-ending fixture at Gympie is the platform for a rousing race for one of the South East Country Racing Association premiership titles.
At present, local trainers Barry Gill and Kerry Munce are locked together on 13 wins apiece.
If both quiet achievers draw a blank, then Gill – with a 14-9 edge on the runner-up tally board – will successfully defend his title and receive the $1500 prize.
The agenda is almost gladiatorial in that both yards have strong numerical representation.
Gill, with a total of seven acceptors, will saddle up starters in each of the five races while Munce will have a team of eight in the battle. He has a rest in the third event but has half the field of six in the crucial finale.
With 25.5 winners to date, Munce’s apprentice Billie-Rose Derbyshire has had the honours for the juniors (eg: the Desiree Gill Memorial Apprentice of the Year) in the bag for quite some time.
The worthy winner of the $600 award will be in action at Gympie, as will the leading senior hoop Ian Coombes whose 11 successes cannot be passed as none of his nearest opponents will be there donning silk.
The most remarkable aspect of the SEQCRA non-TAB premiership contests has been the fact that although Desiree Gill competed for just a quarter of the racing year before her untimely death last November, she booted home 10 winners at a brilliant 32% strike rate.
Coombes gained the lead in the quest for $900 and the associated thrill when he took Hildesheim to the winner’s slot at Esk on 5 July.
Given that Derbyshire kicked off her career with the support and guidance of the Gills, it is superbly appropriate she has earned the inaugural award, which is a tangible tribute to Desiree’s marvellous abilities and profound dedication to service.
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A Best Bet For The New Racing Year
Regular racegoers – and even the occasional fan – can find great value and lots of benefits by joining or renewing their membership of their local rural race club.
For example, the Nanango Race Club – which opens the district’s 2014-15 year on Saturday week with its XXXX Gold-Carrollee Hotel Cup meeting – has a great range of membership offerings.
The Member and Guest category costs a mere $66, a single Member is $35 and their 25-And-Under membership is just $25 per annum.
Membership ensures free admission to the track and entree to the Members’ Bar for the six Lee Park fixtures each year, along with Esk, Kilcoy and Gympie race-days.
Given that Lee Park entry fees are normally $10 per head for the general public, some quick calculations show that a couple are well ahead after attending on just four occasions.
Contact details for SECRA clubs located in the South Burnett and neighbouring areas are as follows:
- Bundaberg – (07) 4153-1416
- Burrandowan – (07) 4164-8147
- Eidsvold – (07) 4165-1281
- Esk – (07) 5423-1296
- Gayndah – 0407-629-526
- Gympie – 0419-676-344
- Kilcoy – 0488-411-032
- Kumbia – (07) 4163-7200
- Mount Perry – (07) 4156-3295
- Monto – (07) 4167-8964
- Nanango – (07) 4163-2346
- Wondai – 0402-715-242
