Wondai Races
Courtney Schultz, from Murgon, and Olivia Sells, from Wheatlands, enjoyed the sunny race day weather that followed a morning of sub-zero temperatures across the region
Wondai Races
Tom Eggerling with Fashions Of The Field compere Cr Ros Heit … Cr Heit joked she wore a pink dress at Saturday’s meeting ‘to preserve another Duff tradition’

July 14, 2014

Local knowledge paid off at Saturday’s Wondai Races with trainer Norma King – and the Duff name – dominating.

King enjoyed two wins on her home track: Flight Command and Vain Dazzler took out line honours in the third and fifth races.

But King was pipped at the post by Gatton trainer Lyn Paton in the day’s feature race, the 1465m Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap.

Paton’s horse Heart’n Soul streaked past the winning post a length ahead of King’s Master Vinnie.

The win assured Paton a trophy presented by Cedric Duff, a direct descendant of Lewis Duff who was one of the founders of racing at Wondai almost 100 years ago.

She was delighted to win the trophy and said she would “certainly be coming back again”.

The Duff name was also prominent in Race 2 with Cedric’s twin brother Pat, a Brisbane-based trainer, trackside to oversee his horse Lily My Girl bringing home the money.

The brothers were keen to remind racegoers the Duff name has been associated with Wondai racing ever since the family settled in the area in 1910.

Cedric said he’ll be returning in October, promising a $400 prize at the race club’s Caulfield Cup meeting to the woman who wins that day’s Fashions Of The Field competition.

Other local trainers who did well on Saturday included Glenn Richardson and James Curtain who both scored placings with their charges.

Jockey Robert Faehr went home smiling after notching up two wins and a second.

And despite freezing sub-zero temperatures early on Saturday morning with the mercury dipping as low as minus seven degrees in some parts of the South Burnett, the meeting attracted a lively crowd keen for a fun day at the track.

South Burnett Cr Ros Heit deputised for regular Cr Kathy Duff – who was in Brisbane attending a conference – to organise the Fashions Of The Field competition which had a “Winter Wonderland” theme.

The competition was judged by Nanango Race Club president John Lee and Gloria Kirkness from the Nanango Tourism & Development Association.

Cr Heit said she was wearing a pink dress partly to honour a tradition established by Cr Duff, and partly because “when Kathy’s around I’m not allowed to wear pink anyway”.

Anna Pukallus, from Widgee, took out the Ladies category; Tom Eggerling the Men’s; and Sean and Amanda Erwin were judged the best-dressed couple.

Wondai Races
Kingaroy sisters Jessica and Shania Beresford persuaded Gunnettes player Stephanie Clegg to have a rare Saturday afternoon off from the region’s soccer competition

Wondai Races
Ladies Fashions Of The Field winner Anna Pukallus, from Widgee

Wondai Races
Men’s Fashions Of The Field winner Tom Eggerling, from Kingaroy
Wondai Races
Sean and Amanda Erwin, from Kingaroy, were voted the best dressed couple by the Fashions Of The Field judges
Wondai Races
Amanda Weber, from Wondai, and Tynika White, from Kingaroy enjoyed the trackside action
Wondai Races
Natalie Laman, from Kingaroy, and Emma Morris, from Dalby, cut stylish figures on course
Wondai Races
Heart ‘N’ Soul part-owner Stuart Tabke and trainer Lyn Paton receive a trophy from Cedric Duff for winning the Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap
Heart ‘N’ Soul part-owner Stuart Tabke and trainer Lyn Paton receive a trophy from Cedric Duff for winning the Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap
Wondai Races
Twin brothers Pat and Cedric Duff …. there have been Duffs in the Wondai area since 1910
Twin brothers Pat and Cedric Duff …. there have been Duffs in the Wondai area since 1910

* * *

Wondai Races
Just a hair’s breadth separated Lily My Girl and Decadent as they raced towards the finishing post in Race 2 … in the end, Lily My Girl (inside) won by a nose
Just a hair’s breadth separated Lily My Girl and Decadent as they raced towards the finishing post in Race 2 … in the end, Lily My Girl (inside) won by a nose

RESULTS

Race 1 – Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Craiglea Focus (3) – Robert Faehr
2. Manner Lassie (2) – Jason Missen
3. My Little Dame (6) – Naoki Ogura
Time: 1:01.20
Margins: 2 1/4 lengths x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 2 – QTIS BenchMark 60 Handicap (1100m)
1. Lily My Girl (3) – Carl Spry
2. Decadent (11) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
3. Desert Playboy (4) – Ian Coombes
Time: 1:06.00
Margins: Nose x 2 lengths

Race 3 – Smithfield Open Handicap (1000m)
1. Flight Command (6) – Robert Faehr
2. Amber Ale (4) – Rhiannon Payne
3. Golden Cash (2) – Tiffani Brooker
Time: 0:59.20
Margins: Length x 7 lengths

Race 4 – Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap (1465m)
1. Heart ‘N’ Soul (4) – Pietro Romeo
2. Master Vinnie (5) – Jason Missen
3. Alazani (1) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
Time: 1:33.50
Margins: Length x 1/2 length

Race 5 – Benchmark 75 Handicap (1465m)
1. Vain Dazzler (7) – Shenny Chan
2. Craiglea Blondie (1) – Robert Faehr
3. Glenthorn Avenue (2) – Jason Missen
Time: 1:32.70
Margins: Long head x 1 length

Wondai Races
Craiglea Focus was an easy winner in the first race, beating Manner Lassie by more than two lengths
Craiglea Focus was an easy winner in the first race, beating Manner Lassie by more than two lengths

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