February 16, 2015
A happy crowd descended on the Lee Park Racecourse in Nanango on Saturday for the club’s Valentine’s Day meeting.
The Nanango Race Club was having a free entry day to thank race-goers for their support, and many couples (and singles) took advantage of the offer to celebrate the international day of romance trackside.
The meeting’s theme was “A Twist Of Pink Romance”, and there was pink everywhere – pink dresses and hats worn by many women, and pink ties and shirts worn by many men.
The club’s popular Pink Champagne Bar was also well-patronised, and several bar staff sported pink attire.
Punters were also very well served, with a good spread of acceptances from both local trainers and those further afield.
It promised an interesting – and at times, challenging – day of racing where picking winners could test even the most skilled form judges.
As things turned out, jockey Jodi Worley had the best day, scoring two wins and two seconds off the five-race card.
Nanango jockey Hannah Phillips also did well, running third in Race 1 on Shinzo Mashuranbo, then winning Race 2 decisively with Captain Clayton.
The race club also paid a special tribute to veteran South Burnett trainer Max Guldbransen, who chose the meeting to announce his retirement from the industry after a lifetime’s work (you can read the full story in Gunsynd’s Gossip this Friday, February 20).
Because the meeting was targeted at adults, judges dispensed with the junior grades of the popular Fashions Of The Field contest and focused on the grown-ups instead, awarding prizes in the Men’s and Ladies sections as well as an extra prize for the most fashionable couple.
The competition was judged by Cr Kathy Duff and Verelle O’Shanesy from the Jondaryan Race Club.
Afterwards Cr Duff presented a hand-made silver bracelet to Ladies section winner Kelli White, and a hand-made silver tie clip to Men’s section winner Scott Anderson.
The bonus gifts were in memory of her grandfather John Duff, who met grandmother Dorothea Evans at the first Burrandowan Picnic Race meeting in 1913.
John had entered his thoroughbred Thunderclap in the Lady’s Bracelet race (where all horses had to have a lady’s name) and was so taken by the young beauty he renamed it Dorothea.
Thunderclap won; John presented the gold watch prize to Dorothea; and the couple were married four years later.
Cr Duff has been presenting a silver bracelet to the winning jockey of Burrandowan’s Lady’s Bracelet race ever since 2012 to honour her family’s 102-year-old connection to the South Burnett’s racing industry.
And in her new role as patron of the Nanango Race Club’s annual pink-themed day, this year she extended the custom to Nanango as well.
[Photos by Clive Lowe Photography and southburnett.com.au]
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Results
Race 1 – Three Way Photos Class 1 Handicap (800m)
1. Empress Ayleah (7) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
2. La Tenza (6) – Sarah Eilbeck
3. Shinzo Mashuranbo (8) – Hannah Phillips
Time: 0:45.74
Margins: Head x long head
Race 2 – Ken Mills Toyota Benchmark 66 Handicap (1000m)
1. Captain Clayton (1) – Hannah Phillips
2. Latin American (3) – Jodi Worley
3. Miss Typin (8) – Nathan Evans
Time: 0:57.73
Margins: 3 3/4 lengths x 3/4 length
Race 3 – Barambah Vet Surgery Benchmark 55 Handicap (1200m)
1. Sweet And Savage (9) – Davin Green
2. Mystic Medusa (11) – Jodi Worley
3. Canid (2) – Rick Johnston-Bell
Time: 1:11.28
Margins: 1/2 length x neck
Race 4 – Samios Plumbing And Hardware Maiden Handicap (1200m)
1. Carbonendi (9) – Jodi Worley
2. Monschapelle (10) – Isabella Rabjones
3. Mr Seduction (13) – Jedidiah Hodge
Time: 1:11.56
Margins: 1/2 length x long neck
Race 5 – Nanango Gas Suppliers Class B Handicap (1600m)
1. Pryendi (1) – Jodi Worley
2. Never Ignore (7) – Damion McIntosh
3. Galway Town (3) – Brent Evans
Time: 1:35.50
Margins: 1/2 head x short neck
- Related link: Videos of all five races
