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.
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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