April 27, 2014
Anzac Day services around the region drew record crowds this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, and so did Wondai’s 42nd Anzac Day race meeting.
The South Burnett Race Club held Anzac Day meetings annually at the Wondai track between 1970 and 2009 but in 2010 Queensland Racing forced the club to stop by awarding the date to Beaudesert and then – in 2011 and 2012 – to Chinchilla.
But the traditional meeting was restored by the incoming Newman State Government in 2013, and it’s proven a winner ever since by providing an afternoon of light-hearted trackside entertainment after a morning of sombre reflection.
Saturday’s racegoers were eager to beat the autumn heat and get under cover in the betting ring.
Punters also packed the Lady Luck Bar all afternoon, while stylish ladies and gents competed in the Fashions Of The Field competition.
On the track, local trainers and jockeys did well.
Kumbia trainer James Curtain’s I Am Maclovin took first place in Race 1, with Wondai trainer Kristen Wenck’s Nug’s Pocket taking third.
Famechon Baroness was first past the post in the Race 3 for Kingaroy trainer Tom Moloney, while Flight Command took second in Race 4 for Wondai’s Norma King, and fellow Wondai trainer Tony Williams’ Western Maizcay secured a third place in Race 5.
Nanango jockey Hannah Phillips also had a good outing, riding second placegetter Wonderful Tess in Race 1, and Wondai Diggers Cup winner Formal Star in the last race of the day.
And Jockey Jason Missen experienced a brief burst of deja vu when he won Race 2 aboard trainer Dale Murray’s Blackmore Vale. Last year, Missen also won Race 2, although that time it was aboard a Norma King mount.
South Burnett Race club officials said they were very pleased with the turnout. The club’s next meeting will be its Winter Race Day in July.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* * *
Results
Race 1 – Smithfield Feedlot Class 1 Handicap (850m)
1. I Am Maclovin (3) – Manabu Kai
2. Wonderful Tess (6) – Hannah Phillips
3. Nug’s Pocket (1) – Jason Missen
Time: 0:52.31
Margins: 1 1/4 lengths x 2 3/4 lengths
Race 2 – Datawave Class B Handicap (1100m)
1. Blackmore Vale (8) – Jason Missen
2. The Yes Man (2) – Billy-Rose Derbyshire
3. Sagacious Lady (9) – Michael Schrapel
Time: 1:07.33
Margins: 1/2 head x 1 1/4 lengths
Race 3 – Hotel Cecil QTIS Maiden Plate (1100m)
1. Famechon Baroness (8) – Alannah Badger
2. It Wasn’t Me (2) – Rick Johnston-Bell
3. The Joystick (9) – Pietro Romeo
Time: 1:08.51
Margins: 1/2 length x 1/2 length
Race 4 – Elz Bistro And Coffee Shop Benchmark 65 Handicap (1100m)
1. Shoctonic (7) – Pietro Romeo
2. Flight Command (3) – Manabu Kai
3. Mafia Princess (9) – Alannah Badger
Time: 1:07.11
Margins: 1 length x 1 1/14 lengths
Race 5 – Wondai Diggers Cup Benchmark 55 Handicap (1465m)
1. Formal Star (3) – Hannah Phillips
2. Foregone (1) – Kelly Gates
3. Western Maizcay (2) – Alannah Badger
Time: 1:35.20
Margins: 2 1/4 lengths x 1 head
