July 11, 2014
By Ross Stanley
A feature of the South Burnett Race Club’s card in Wondai this Saturday will be the running of the Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap (1465m).
Brisbane trainer Pat Duff will hoist Burnett-born jockey Carl Spry into the saddle on Nada to Prada for the event, which honours the contribution his father made to racing in the district, both as a participant and in the administrative field.
Pat’s twin brother Cedric – the principal of Glendalough Brangas Stud at Bowenville – will also be in attendance.
Both brothers have been successful trainers in their own right, and Cedric has also worked as Pat’s foreman.
The duo will relish catching up with locals – particularly their cousin Peter Ryan.
Elizabeth Ryan, Patrick and Cedric’s mother, was involved in Iruklam, the chestnut by Ajax’s son Achilles that was good enough to win the 1963 BATC Summer Cup, run second in the 1961 Queensland Derby and finish a fine fourth in a Stradbroke Handicap.
Some trackside conversation starters with the amiable brothers could centre around their early successes with the likes of Lady O’Stars, whose win at Wondai opened Pat’s career account, Gael Bay (raced by Joe Ryan and Elizabeth Duff) and Pae Wood.
But try not to mention memories of the Bundamba Sixth Division Handicap when Papilloma, backed from 66/1 into 14/1, was beaten a head by Midsummer before the winner returned a positive swab and was disqualified.
It’s probably better to talk about the fact that Papilloma only cost $200 but went on to score 20 times!
If you begin chatting about Pat’s wonderful array of gallopers you will be there until breakfast next
weekend.
The list includes Our Cavalier, Handsome Prince, El Akbar, Bay Legend, Star of Florida, Hard Case, Scomeld (briefly), Hard To Catch, Heart Of The Citi, Power Arrow, Prince of Rory and Lord Medes.
And you won’t have time to mention his great run with apprentices like Michael Pelling, Jim Byrne and – for a while – Mick Dittman, who are just three that come to mind.
(Photo: Cedric Duff Collection)
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Some Thoughts About Saturday’s Wondai Program
Small fields can sometimes produce both upsets and exciting contests. And the six-strong Smithfield Handicap (1000m) may be a case in point.
It will be led out by Frenardi, an incredibly durable nine-year-old with a 3:1-1-1 record at the track.
From a riding perspective, Billie-Rose Derbyshire will have no guesswork to do.
She has partnered the brown gelding for his past 13 assignments and some 23 times all up.
The duo have won five times and picked up 11 placings.
The old boy is resuming from a break and takes on two recent rivals in Unique Fuse and Golden Cash, both unbowed as yet at Wondai.
This will be an absorbing competition.
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A key point for new punters is that racing on the sand is vastly different from negotiating firm grass.
Many hot favourites, backed on the strength of their turf form, come unstuck on the softer surfaces, particularly if they are deterred by the kickback.
It is wise to look out for performers proven on the Wondai circuit or other sand tracks.
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The Show A Heart mare Alazani will appreciate the drop in class when she tackles the Lewis Duff
Memorial. And she will sport some famous livery.
It is the “all cerise” but not the set of Woodland Stud fame.
These colours were used by the late Bill Lenehan, a skilful heavy punter known as The Milkman.
Two of his best horses were Symbolize and Confidence, the 1963 Queensland Guineas and Derby winner that stood at the Borchett stud in the Burnett.
Members of Bill’s family race the four-year-old.
It’s won on heavy ground and been placed on the dirt at Gympie.
