June 1, 2015
The Nanango Race Club’s Autumn Race Meeting drew an above-average crowd on Saturday, and hosted a lot of family reunions as well.
The big crowd – and the reunions – were both brought about by St Mary’s Catholic College in Kingaroy.
The College was celebrating three important anniversaries over the weekend: the 85th year of the school’s foundation (held over from last year) as St Mary’s Convent School; the 50th anniversary of its conversion into St Mary’s Secondary College in 1965; and the 25th anniversary of its expansion into St Mary’s Catholic College in 1990.
Past students and teachers travelled from all over Queensland – and many from interstate – to take part in a weekend of festivities and memories, which kicked off with an afternoon at the races and were followed by a Mass at the College’s Mary Knoll Centre on Saturday evening, and then a community dinner in the College’s grounds.
The race day get-together was also well supported by teachers from St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Nanango and St Joseph’s Catholic School in Murgon, most of whom had a direct association with St Mary’s themselves.
Many of the patrons took up the meeting’s “Vivid Velvet and Vintage” fashion theme.
There were lots of 1920s and 1930s-inspired hats in evidence, along with faux fur stoles and three-quarter length dresses on the ladies, and elegant suits on the gentlemen.
On the track, there was a lot of interest in the Margaret and Gary Banks Memorial Maiden Plate and the St Mary’s Anniversaries Handicap, the first two races of the day.
They were both won by 6-1 outsiders.
However, many punters were able to reclaim their early losses on the next two races, which were both taken out by favourites.
Nanango apprentice jockey Hannah Phillips also had a good day, scoring two wins and a third from her five rides, which should keep her current position at the top of the Jockey’s table secure.
Her father Barry should also win Horse Of The Year for his charge Captain Clayton, which took out its third win of the season in Race 4 with Hannah aboard.
Nanango Race Club Secretary Rosemary Hansen said the Club was very pleased with Saturday’s turnout, which has concluded another year’s racing at the Lee Park track.
The Race Club’s next meeting will be its Nanango Cup meeting on Saturday, August 1, which is always one of the biggest of the year.
Other meetings will be held on September 19; December 5; February 13; March 26; and May 28.
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Results
Race 1 – Nanango RSL / Margaret and Gary Banks Memorial Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Marion Mary (10) – Amy Van Der Sanden
2. Nothin’ Zappenin’ (12) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
3. Everingham (1) – Jedidiah Hodge
Time: 0:59.28
Margins: 3/4 length x 1/4 length
Race 2 – St Mary’s Anniversaries Class B Handicap (1000m)
1. Scratchy (12) – Jedidiah Hodge
2. Issy Comand (1) – Bruce Powell
3. Jai’s Luck (2) – Hannah Phillips
Time: 0:58.00
Margins: nose x 1 3/4 lengths
Race 3 – Nanango BP Maiden Handicap (1200m)
1. Flinders Luck (4) – Hannah Phillips
2. Ripper Nipper (8) – Rick Johnston-Bell
3. Twilight Hunter (10) – Anthony Merritt
Time: 1:10.63
Margins: 1 length x 3 3/4 length
Race 4 – KD Plant Hire Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m)
1. Captain Clayton (1) – Hannah Phillips
2. I’m No Ruby (4) – Amy Van Der Sanden
3. Attitudinal Miss (3) – Jessie Philpot
Time: 1:09.55
Margins: 1/2 length x 1/4 length
Race 5 – Nanango Vet Surgery Benchmark 60 Handicap (1600m)
1. Winner Wimmer (1) – Rick Johnston-Bell
2. Lovethenightlife (6) – Wayne O’Connell
3. Mr Pennypacker (3) – Bruce Powell
Time: 1:35.22
Margins: Long neck x 3/4 length
