October 21, 2013
Mimics has proven she’s a specialist when it comes to winning local Cups … picking up back-to-back Wondai Cup victories, hot on the heels of her success in the Nanango Cup in August.
The eight-year-old bay mare, owned and trained by Lyn Paton at Gatton, scooted away to an easy win in the feature race on Saturday with Shaun Bayliss aboard.
A photo was needed to separate second and third, with Oakmantel eventually overcoming Spanish Sun six lengths behind the winner.
Bayliss had a good day at Wondai, also picking up a win in Race 5 on the favourite, Pendari, and a third in Race 1 (Heart’n Soul).
The Wondai Cup was run over 1465m but this may be the last time this length this used; South Burnett Race Club president Wayne Kratzmann said it was intended to increase the length to 2000m in 2014 to cater for country horses wanting to race over a longer distance.
* * *
The South Burnett Race Club had a lot to celebrate on Saturday.
Not only was the club celebrating its centenary – and a record crowd for recent years – it was also the first of a new three-meeting sponsorship deal that the club has signed with Don and Barb Madden from Smithfield Feedlot at Proston.
Club president Wayne Kratzmann said he believed it was the first time in the club’s history that a sponsor has signed on for a season of racing.
“Smithfield approached me, saying they wanted to do something for the South Burnett Race Club,” South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann said.
“We are thrilled with the level of support they have provided.”
Don Madden said his family had been involved with Wondai racing for generations. His father Terry used to train and race horses at the track, and his great-grandfather had cleared the land for the racecourse to be formed.
* * *
These days racing is about a lot more than just horseflesh competing on the track. The competition amongst the spectators is often just as intense.
Cr Kathy Duff – who organises the Fashions of the Field event at Wondai – rounded up a strong field of contenders dressed to Saturday’s theme of “Diamonds and Pearls with a Twist of Vintage”.
Judges were Ken and Bev McLoughlin and Cr Ros Heit who after much deliberation finally selected the winners: Sharlea Pedley, from Proston, and Sean Erwin, from Kingaroy. Junior winners were Cooper Richardson, 5, from Nanango; and Kealeigh Burgess, 12, from Glenden, near Mackay.
* * *
Crowd numbers on Saturday were bolstered by a special contingent from St Mary’s Catholic College – who also sponsored one of the races.
A marquee of 90 guests from St Mary’s Catholic College’s P&F Association, plus 21 visitors from Guardian Angels Catholic Primary School at Wynnum, were enjoying the sunshine and the Caulfield Cup Day racing.
The marquee, sponsored by Kingaroy’s Carrollee Hotel, even had its own private catering, supplied by Mike Giles from OMG! Events.
The day was a fundraiser for the school and even included its own “horse race”.
At the close of the “official” racing, parents and students took to the track for their own “race” which included some barefoot galloping which left the stewards scratching their heads …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Results
Race 1 – South Burnett Regional Council Class B Handicap (850m)
1. Aresveepee (3) – Antoni Ward
2.Celever Trick (5) – Nathan Evans
3. Heart’n Soul (2) – Shaun Bayliss
Time: 0:50.60
Margins: 1 length x short neck
Race 2 – Kingaroy Hotel Class 2 Handicap (1100m)
1. Mr Axeman (5) – Shannon Apthorpe
2. Just Watcher (2) – Nathan Evans
3. Belwina (1) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
Time: 1:06.30
Margins: 3 1/4 lengths x 1/2 length
Race 3 – St Mary’s Spring Bling Open Handicap (1000m)
1. Unique Fuse (2) – Desiree Gill
2. Frenardi (1) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
3. Raku Tu (3) – Shannon Apthorpe
Time: 0:59.40 (just outside the track record)
Margins: 2 1/2 lengths x long neck
Race 4 – Roy & Glenys Radunz Smithfield Feedlot Wondai Cup BenchMark 70 Hcp (1465m)
1. Mimics (2) – Shaun Bayliss
2. Oakmantel (3) – Chris Kearney
3. Spanish Sun (5) – Nathan Evans
Time: 1:31.50
Margins: 6 lengths x 1/2 head
Race 5 – Candice’s 30th Birthday QTIS Maiden Plate (1465m)
1 Pendari (1) – Shaun Bayliss
2 Miss Mookychick (4) – Tiffani Brooker
3 Virginia Falls (5) – Desiree Gill
Time: 1:34.00
Margins: 1/2 head x 1 1/2 lengths
