Wondai Anzac Day Races
Skye Meehan, Amy Atkinson and Gemma Litzow, from Murgon, enjoying their day at the track

April 26, 2014

The return of Wondai’s traditional Anzac Day races has again proven to be a shot in the arm for the South Burnett, with local trainers bringing home some big wins and a large crowd flocking through the gates for the South Burnett Race Club.

This is the second time in recent years the club has been allocated an Anzac Day meeting by the State Government and although there were only four races, the crowd enjoyed some great punting.

Wondai trainer Norma King scored two-for-two when jockey Jason Missen steered Shearer’s Magic and Kool Heaven to the winning post in the first two races of the day.

Nanango trainer Glenn Richardson cemented the dominance of local trainers when Tiffani Brooker produced a win for him in Race 3 on Golden Cash.

Wondai trainer Peter Blackwell’s highly fancied Shinzo Mushuranbo was only narrowly beaten into second in the opener, while fellow local trainer Terry Williams enjoyed a third in Race 3 with Mr Axeman.

The racing attracted some of the biggest crowds seen at the Wondai track in many years.

Patrons queued up in the betting ring to place wagers on their fancied favourites, while the Fashions Of The Field judges had a hard time picking the winners.

The unusually hot autumn weather kept many patrons sheltering in shaded areas or under marquees between races, while others rehydrated in the canteen or at the Lady Luck Bar.

The feature race, the Smithfield Feedlot Diggers Cup Class B Handicap was won by apprentice Billie-Rose Derbyshire on Remy Martini for Gympie trainer Kerry Munce.

Billie-Rose and Kerry were both delighted with the win, which was the first Derbyshire has enjoyed in almost a fortnight since she steered Shinzo Mashuranbo to victory at Esk on April 12.

Nanango trainer Glenn Richardson took third with Tiffani Brooker on Latarno.

Wondai Anzac Day Races
Cr Kathy Duff and Male Fashions Of The Field winner Will Mewburn, from Proston, who was dressed from head to toe in R.M. Williams gear

Wondai Anzac Day Races
Female Fashions Of The Field winner Holly Murphy, from Ballarat

Wondai Anzac Day Races
Wondai trainer Norma King saw two of her horses win the first two races
Wondai Anzac Day Races
Brennan Fuller and Grace Dalton, from Wooroolin, with Holly Murphy, from Ballarat

Wondai Anzac Day Races
Kingaroy’s Troy and Heather Litzow were voted Best Dressed Couple

Wondai Anzac Day Races
Fashions of the Field judges Sheena Uebergang and Kimberley Dove
Wondai Anzac Day Races
Volunteers Jeanette Crowe, Lilian Blogg, Val Peace and Lyn Weatherburn from the Wondai Garden Club and Wondai Lions helped keep the canteen running smoothly all day

Wondai Anzac Day Races
Leticha Smith and Jessie Turner were enjoying the meeting in the Smithfield Feedlot marquee

Wondai Anzac Day Races
Rikki and Ian Edwards, from Kingaroy, were celebrating their first wedding anniversary
Wondai Anzac Day Races
Charles Dixon, Jodi Rowell and Harrison Scott, all from Kingaroy, were full of race day fun

* * *

Wondai Anzac Day Races - Race 1
Jason Missen boots Shearer’s Magic over the line in Race 1 – narrowly ahead of highly fancied Shinzo Mushuranbo – to give local trainer Norma King her first win of the day

RESULTS

Race 1 – Datawave Internet / The Com Pub Rating 60 Handicap (850m)
1. Shearer’s Magic (5) – Jason Missen
2. Shinzo Mushuranbo (6) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
3. Here’s Lucy (1) – Emma Ljung
Time: 0:50.50
Margins: 3/4 length x 3/4 length

Race 2 – Wayne, Shanyn & Jordan Sippel Birthday QTIS Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Kool Heaven (1) – Jason Missen
2. Malibu Woo Woo (5) – Amy Van Der Sanden
3. Bush Beat (2) – Emma Ljung
Time: 1:00.50
Margins: 2 1/2 lengths x 4 1/4 lengths

Race 3 – The Hotondo Homes Benchmark 65 Handicap (1100m)
1. Golden Cash (1) – Tiffani Brooker
2. Desert Playboy (7) – Ian Coombes
3. Mr Axeman (5) – Rhiannon Payne
Time: 1:05.00
Margins: 6 lengths x 1 3/4 lengths

Race 4 – The Smithfield Feedlot Diggers Cup Class B Handicap (1465m)
1. Remy Martini (9) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
2. Kutcher (3) – Matthew Gray
3. Latarno (5) – Tiffani Brooker
Time: 1:32.90
Margins: 1 length x 1 head

Wondai Anzac Day Races - Race 2
Jason Missen steers Kool Heaven past the winning post in Race 2 to give himself and Wondai trainer Norma King their second consecutive win of the day
Wondai Anzac Day Races - Race 3
Nanango trainer Glenn Richardson scored a third win for the locals when jockey Tiffani Brooker rode Golden Cash over the finish line in Race 3, a healthy 6 lengths ahead of its nearest rival
Wondai Anzac Day Races - Race 4
Billie-Rose Derbyshire took out the feature race of the day – The Diggers Cup in Race 4 – on Remy Martini, a length ahead of rivals Kutcher and Latarno
Wondai Anzac Day Races
A clearly elated Billie-Rose Derbyshire is congratulated in the mounting yard after Race 4 by trainer Kerry Munce and strapper Taylor Ratten; it was Billie-Rose’s first win in almost a fortnight
Wondai Anzac Day Races
Kerry Munce is presented with The Diggers Cup trophy by Wondai RSL sub-branch president Neil Burrows and South Burnett Race Club president Wayne Kratzmann