Winter Wonderland At Wondai

July 14, 2014

Local knowledge paid off at Saturday’s Wondai Races with trainer Norma King – and the Duff name – dominating.

King enjoyed two wins on her home track: Flight Command and Vain Dazzler took out line honours in the third and fifth races.

But King was pipped at the post by Gatton trainer Lyn Paton in the day’s feature race, the 1465m Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap.

Paton’s horse Heart’n Soul streaked past the winning post a length ahead of King’s Master Vinnie.

The win assured Paton a trophy presented by Cedric Duff, a direct descendant of Lewis Duff who was one of the founders of racing at Wondai almost 100 years ago.

She was delighted to win the trophy and said she would “certainly be coming back again”.

The Duff name was also prominent in Race 2 with Cedric’s twin brother Pat, a Brisbane-based trainer, trackside to oversee his horse Lily My Girl bringing home the money.

The brothers were keen to remind racegoers the Duff name has been associated with Wondai racing ever since the family settled in the area in 1910.

Cedric said he’ll be returning in October, promising a $400 prize at the race club’s Caulfield Cup meeting to the woman who wins that day’s Fashions Of The Field competition.

Other local trainers who did well on Saturday included Glenn Richardson and James Curtain who both scored placings with their charges.

Jockey Robert Faehr went home smiling after notching up two wins and a second.

And despite freezing sub-zero temperatures early on Saturday morning with the mercury dipping as low as minus seven degrees in some parts of the South Burnett, the meeting attracted a lively crowd keen for a fun day at the track.

South Burnett Cr Ros Heit deputised for regular Cr Kathy Duff – who was in Brisbane attending a conference – to organise the Fashions Of The Field competition which had a “Winter Wonderland” theme.

The competition was judged by Nanango Race Club president John Lee and Gloria Kirkness from the Nanango Tourism & Development Association.

Cr Heit said she was wearing a pink dress partly to honour a tradition established by Cr Duff, and partly because “when Kathy’s around I’m not allowed to wear pink anyway”.

Anna Pukallus, from Widgee, took out the Ladies category; Tom Eggerling the Men’s; and Sean and Amanda Erwin were judged the best-dressed couple.

• Related article: The Duffs Remember Wondai

Heart ‘N’ Soul part-owner Stuart Tabke and trainer Lyn Paton receive a trophy from Cedric Duff for winning the Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap

Twin brothers Pat and Cedric Duff …. there have been Duffs in the Wondai area since 1910

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Just a hair’s breadth separated Lily My Girl and Decadent as they raced towards the finishing post in Race 2 … in the end, Lily My Girl (inside) won by a nose

RESULTS

Race 1 – Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Craiglea Focus (3) – Robert Faehr
2. Manner Lassie (2) – Jason Missen
3. My Little Dame (6) – Naoki Ogura
Time: 1:01.20
Margins: 2 1/4 lengths x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 2 – QTIS BenchMark 60 Handicap (1100m)
1. Lily My Girl (3) – Carl Spry
2. Decadent (11) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
3. Desert Playboy (4) – Ian Coombes
Time: 1:06.00
Margins: Nose x 2 lengths

Race 3 – Smithfield Open Handicap (1000m)
1. Flight Command (6) – Robert Faehr
2. Amber Ale (4) – Rhiannon Payne
3. Golden Cash (2) – Tiffani Brooker
Time: 0:59.20
Margins: Length x 7 lengths

Race 4 – Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap (1465m)
1. Heart ‘N’ Soul (4) – Pietro Romeo
2. Master Vinnie (5) – Jason Missen
3. Alazani (1) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
Time: 1:33.50
Margins: Length x 1/2 length

Race 5 – Benchmark 75 Handicap (1465m)
1. Vain Dazzler (7) – Shenny Chan
2. Craiglea Blondie (1) – Robert Faehr
3. Glenthorn Avenue (2) – Jason Missen
Time: 1:32.70
Margins: Long head x 1 length

Craiglea Focus was an easy winner in the first race, beating Manner Lassie by more than two lengths

  Racing, Wondai