Fashions of the Field judge Tegan Crisafulli with winners Katrina Mackenzie and Hayley Sinclair
Lyall Appo looked pleased with his win on Roped In, Race 4 

November 6, 2012

There may have been an important horse race at Flemington … but all South Burnett residents know the “real” Cup was raced at Kumbia.

The running of the annual Kumbia Cup attracted a strong field of thoroughbreds, both on and off the track.

Premier Campbell Newman, honouring an election promise, brought along a bunch of his Cabinet colleagues to enjoy the best of country racing.

And as always, local residents flocked to the races despite the fact that it wasn’t an official public holiday.

Fashions of the Field was popular … even Cabinet Ministers took part!

Matt Barbour, from Kumbia, who was the winner of the Best Dressed male category, will be able to boast that he’s a sharper dresser than several well-known politicians.

The winner of the Best Dressed woman category was Katrina Mackenzie.

Hayley Sinclair, from Kingaroy, was awarded for “Unique Style”.

Judges were milliner Tegan Crisafulli (who happens to be the wife of Local Government Minister David Crisafulli) and Eleanor Kratzmann (wife of South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann).

On the track, the locals were also successful, with Kumbia trainer James Curtain picking up a third in Race 1 with Dame Judi and the winner of Race 3, Leica Fuse; and Kingaroy’s Tom Moloney bringing home the winner in Race 1 with Johnny Fickle.

Winner of the feature event, the Huston Ford Nissan Suzuki Kumbia Cup, was Toowoomba-based nine-year-old gelding Ima Joker.

Kumbia Race Club president Brian Lenihan described him as a “good, tough old horse” … not bad as Ima Joker has won three of its past five starts, and only narrowly missed out at Stanthorpe on October 20 .

The victory also gave apprentice jockey Ricci Mercer her first win at Kumbia.

Results:

Race 1 – Rob Stewart Memorial/SB Times/BP Roadhouse Nanango Maiden Plate – 1000m
1. Johnny Fickle (2) – Ray Hancock
2. Cloudy Night (8) – Ms Rhiannon Payne
3. Dame Judi (6) – Joshua King
Time: 0.59.3
Margins: 1/2 length x 1/2 length

Race 2 – Anderson’s Produce/McDonalds Kingaroy/BGA Agri Services QTIS Class 1 Handicap – 1000m
1. Raku Tu (11) – Ms Debbie McMaster
2. Grandeur King (6) – Lyall Appo
3. Backstreet Jack (3) – Bruce Powell
Time: 0.57.1
Margins: 1/2 length x long head

Race 3 – Carline Mufflers/SB Dental Group/Carrollee Hotel Class 4 Handicap – 1200m
1. Leica Fuse (6) – Ray Hancock
2. Go On Greg (5) – Bruce Powell
3. Spello (1) – Joshua King
Time: 1.10
Margins: 1 1/4 length x 1 length

Race 4 – Kumbia Hotel/South Burnett Regional Council/Kingaroy Real Estate Class B Handicap – 1200m
1. Roped In (6) – Lyall Appo
2. Frayed (2) – Ms Ricci Mercer
3. Naval Action (9) – Ms Tamara Tincknell
Time: 1.09.6
Margins: 2 lengths x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 5 – Huston Ford Nissan Suzuki Kumbia Cup Open Handicap – 1200m
1. Ima Joker (1) – Ms Ricci Mercer
2. Release Me (2) – Ms Tamara Tincknell
3. Chief Chargingbear (8) – Ray Hancock
Time: 1.09
Margins: 1/2 length x 1 1/4 lengths

Ray Hancock rides Kumbia-trained Leica Fuse to an easy win in Race 3

Fashions of the Field winner Matt Barbour with judge Tegan Crisafulli

Michelle Kath and Peta Dray, from Widgee, were enjoying the Kumbia hospitality
Victory in the cup … jockey Ricci Mercer, Toneal and Mel Hoffman and Huston Motors Sales Manager Dean Gauld; Ima Joker is owned and trained by Wayne Nugent

Nicole Armstrong, “Charolais Queen” Sheree McGill, Kilkivan, and Natalee Young, Kumbia

Julie Pantlin, Kingaroy, Cr Cheryl Dalton, Wooroolin, and Sonia Champney
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington with Kumbia volunteers Anne Beil and Kay Woodward, and Premier Campbell Newman
Strapper Mel Hoffman with Kumbia Cup-winning jockey Ricci Mercer