Celebrating spring at the Wondai Races … from left, Christie Sippel, Murgon; Amanda and Caitlyn Seiler, Wondai; Ashleigh Irvine, Wondai; Casey Dennis, Murgon; and Larissa Kerkow, Wondai 

October 21, 2014

Racegoers enjoyed a colourful start to spring at the Wondai Races on Saturday with a good crowd supporting the South Burnett Race Club’s annual Wondai Cup meeting.

Off the track, the fashion theme was “Colours Of Spring” which ensured there were plenty of floral outfits on display.

On the track, jockey Sarah Eilbeck – who stared in the Gunsynd’s Gossip column on Friday – stole the show.

Sarah was booked for four rides, and brought home three thirds plus the all-important win in the feature race,  on second favourite, Aashiq, in the Roy & Glenis Radunz Smithfield Wondai Cup.

South Burnett trainers also did well, with Norma King bringing home “Hidden Duck” in Race 2 on her home track.

Kumbia trainer James Curtain also brought home two placegetters.

There was a bit of excitement before Race 1 when Licensee dislodged apprentice Rick Johnston-Bell as they were leaving the mounting yard. Johnston-Bell valiantly tried to hold on the reins but was eventually  forced to let go. Licensee then trotted up and down before finally being cornered. The gelding was checked by the club vet and cleared to start.

Correct weight was also delayed in Race 4 and Race 5 because of incidents at the barrier.

In Race 4, Butter’n’Dash reared at the start and lost ground but was declared a starter.

In Race 5,  the winner, Aashiq, was drawn in Barrier 8 but started in Barrier 9; Beautiful Barb, which was drawn in Barrier 9 started from Barrier 8.

After taking evidence from the starter, stewards fined the two jockeys $100 each.

A group of English backpackers who have been helping out at Carl and Louise Rackemann’s farm at West Wooroolin enjoyed a break at the Wondai Races … from left, Alex Quigley, London; Rebecca Thompson, Wiltshire; Louise and Maddie Rackemann; Sophie Gould, Chester; and Rachel Sutherland, Birmingham
Cedric Duff, race day ambassador Kathy Duff and Fashions Of The Field winner Sheena Lindholm, from Nanango, who chose her spring fashion look from NB Inspirations at Proston
Kathy Duff with Men’s Fashion of the Field winner Michael Close, from Wondai, with runners-up Paul “Pops” Adam, Murgon; and Keith Litzow, Murgon
Kimberley Dove, who was helping to sash the winners, with the Best Dressed Couple, Bill and Anna Pukallus, from Widgee, and Roy Radunz

Children’s winners were Jarrod Gossow, 14, from Wondai, and Clair Anderson, 8, from Hivesville, with judge Barb Madden and Kathy Duff

St Joseph’s Murgon was supplying the hot chips … from left, Graham Prendergast, Patrice Jones, Scott Prendergast and principal Greg Cran 
Having fun at the races, from left, Ryan Reick, Sarah Thomson, Lylah Calvert, Shara Oakley, all from Kingaroy; Mitchell Gossow, Wondai; Justin Carsburg and Ryan Williams, Kingaroy; and Jordan Gossow, Wondai
Michael Kelly, from the Queensland Thoroughbred Racing Board, with Wondai Cup sponsor Roy Radunz, race day ambassador Kathy Duff, Glenis Radunz, Barb and Don Madden, from race club sponsors Smithfield Feedlot; and South Burnett Race Club president Wayne Kratzmann    

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Race Results

Jockey Billie-Rose Derbyshire with strapper Carol McDowell and trainer Grant Arnold and “Exceedingly Fine” after Race 4
Only a nose separated Wonderful Wally and second placegetter War Noise, on the rails, at the end of Race 1

Race 1 – Maiden Plate (1100m)
1. Wonderful Wally (3) – Amy Van Der Sanden
2. War Noise (2) – Robert Faehr
3. Somerset Dawn (8) – Sarah Eilbeck
Time: 1:07.20
Margins: Nose x 61/2 lengths

Race 2 – QTIS BenchMark 55 Handicap (1100m)
1. Hidden Duck (3) – Jason Missen
2. Bradbury’s Quest (8) – Shaun Bayliss
3. Active Star (7) – Wayne O’Connell
Time: 1:05.40
Margins: 5 3/4 lengths x short head

Race 3 – Robyn Sippel’s 60th Open Handicap (1000m)
1. Miss Mega Herz (1) – Amy Van Der Sanden
2. Canid (5) – Rick Johnston-Bell
3. Amber Ale (3) – Sarah Eilbeck
Time: 0:59.40
Margins: 5 1/2 lengths x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 4 – South Burnett Regional Council Class B Handicap (850m)
1. Exceedingly Fine (6) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
2. Little Paddy (2) – Amy Van Der Sanden
3. You’ll Have To (8) – Sarah Eilbeck
Time: 0:50.40
Margins: 1 2/2 length x 1 1/2 length

Race 5 – Roy & Glenis Radunz Smithfield Wondai Cup BenchMark 65 Handicap (1465m)
1. Aashiq (1) – Sarah Eilbeck
2. Western Maizcay (4) – Kelly Gates
3. Chromed (11) – Shaun Bayliss
Time: 1:31.40
Margins: 2 1/2 lengths x 1 2/4 length

Sarah Eilbeck, in the red and white silks, leads the field home aboard top-weight Aashiq in the Wondai Cup 
Connections and race officials celebrate after the Wondai Cup … from left, Larry Ryan, owner Janice Ciampa, trainer Jason Judge, jockey Sarah Eilbeck, race sponsors Glenis and Roy Radunz with South Burnett Race Club president Wayne Kratzmann and race day ambassador Kathy Duff

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