July 11, 2016
Members of the Duff family were out in force at the Wondai Races on Saturday … they came from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and places further afield to watch the running of two of the day’s key races: the Neil Duff Memorial Plate and the Lewis Duff Memorial Handicap.
The races commemorate members of a family that has been associated with the South Burnett Race Club since its inception in the 1920s.
Many family members – such as Brisbane trainer Pat Duff and his twin brother Cedric, the principal of Glendalough Brangas Stud at Bowenville – are still associated with horse racing today.
But as things turned out, it was a day for South Burnett trainers …
Nanango trainers Glenn Richardson and Kaylene Hamilton landed three winners between them, and Hivesville’s Lindsay Anderson struck gold with Glenthorn Avenue.
But it was Bundaberg’s Darryl Gardiner who took out the major race of the day, the 1465m Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap, when jockey Amy Van Der Sanden manged to get her horse Isis Spinner across the line just a short half head from its nearest rival M’sieur Montpelier.
There was also a bit of an upset in Race 2 when jockey Montana Sawa was dislodged from her horse.
Although she appeared to be uninjured, she was taken to hospital as a precaution, which cost her the winning ride on Isis Spinner in the Lewis Duff Memorial later in the day.
Elsewhere, patrons gathered in the bright sunshine to enjoy a warm winter’s day; take part in the Fashions Of The Field competition or cluster under marquees to enjoy the last local race day of the racing year with friends and family.
In the past, the South Burnett Race Club has used the Winter Race Meeting to present the proceeds of its Anzac Day meeting to Legacy.
However, this year the Race Club decided to do this at its Caulfield Cup meeting on October 15.
Race Club secretary Craig Yarrow said the change of presentation date was designed to provide Legacy with greater exposure as the October meeting usually attracts a big crowd.
The South Burnett’s next race meeting will be the Nanango Cup meeting at Lee Park on Saturday, August 13.
This will be the first South Burnett meeting of the new racing year – which begins on August 1 – and is always one of the region’s biggest meets of the year.
Related articles:
- Wondai Races Keep On Giving (2015 Winter meeting)
- Winter Wonderland At Wondai (2014 Winter meeting)
- Right On The Button (2013 Winter meeting)
- The Duffs Remember Wondai
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Results
Race 1 – Wondai Hardware BenchMark 55 Handicap (1100m)
1. Canid (6) – Nathan Evans
2. Marauding’s Girl (3) – Stephanie Lacy
3. Leaps And Bounds (5) – Adam Spinks
Time: 1:06.77
Margins: Neck x 1 3/4 lengths
Race 2 – Neil Duff Memorial Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Hidden Angel (9) – Nathan Evans
2. Sealegs Lilly (7) – Quayde Krogh
3. Beautiful Love (1) – Adam Spinks
Time: 1:01.50
Margins: Short neck x nose
Race 3 – Open Handicap (1000m)
1. Glenthorn Avenue (3) – Jason Hoopert
2. Hizou (5) – Stephanie Lacy
3. Bjorn (4) – Rhiannon Payne
Time: 1:00.30
Margins: 1 3/4 lengths x 1 1/2 lengths
Race 4 – BenchMark 60 Handicap (850m)
1. Monte Lago (7) – Rhiannon Payne
2. Chen Wicko (3) – Jason Hoopert
3. Nug’s Pocket (11) – Ian Coombes
Time: 0:50.53
Margins: 4 3/4 lengths x 3 3/4 lengths
Race 5 – Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap (1465m)
1. Isis Spinner (2) – Amy Van Der Sanden
2. M’sieur Montpelier (7) – Leeanne McCoy
3. Lillian Eliza (5) – Kelly Gates
Time: 1:34.95
Margins: Short half head x 3/4 length
