May 30, 2016
The autumn leaves weren’t the only things falling at Nanango Race Club’s meeting at Lee Park on Saturday.
Marrew Mia, a four-year-old mare trained by Gympie’s Andrew Hayward, threw jockey Pietro Romeo at the barriers in Race 2 and then did a circuit of the track before stewards were able to catch it.
Fortunately, neither Romeo or Marrew Mia were hurt but Romeo had to watch the race from the back of the ambulance after his mount was declared a late scratching.
The upset at the barriers was the only incident of the day which otherwise went without a hitch.
Even blustery winds that scoured the rest of the South Burnett on Saturday failed to put a dampener on the course, where buildings and trees sheltered patrons comfortably throughout the afternoon.
The Autumn meeting is the Race Club’s final meeting of the racing year.
It features the running of the annual Margaret and Garry Banks Memorial Race and – as usual – family members were out in force to present a trophy to the winner.
This year the honour went to trainer Darryl Gardiner for a narrow win on Simply Showtime in Race 3.
Another big trackside contingent came from St Mary’s Catholic College.
The College selected Lee Park as a venue for their combined anniversary celebrations last year, and had such a good day out they repeated the exercise this year.
They also sponsored Race 4 – the St Mary’s Catholic College Open Handicap – which also went to trainer Darryl Gardiner, on Seen A Host ridden by jockey Adam Spinks.
The Moffatdale Ridge Fashions Of The Field competition was well-patronised with many participants dressing to the “Great Gatsby Gangsters & Glamour Girls” theme.
The Nanango Race Club’s next meeting will be the Nanango Cup on Saturday, August 13.
This is always one of the club’s biggest meetings of the year.
But racing fans who can’t wait three months can enjoy themselves at the South Burnett Race Club’s winter meeting, which will be held at Wondai on Saturday, July 9.
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Results
Race 1 – Nanango Veterinary Surgery Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Mrs Boole (3) – Adam Spinks
2. Diamondine (6) – Pietro Romeo
3. Hidden Angel (7) – Alannah Badger
Time: 1:00.30
Margins: 1 length x 3/4 length
Race 2 – BP Roadhouse Nanango BenchMark 50 Handicap (1000m)
1. Stratalena (1) – Ian Coombes
2. Rock Of Glory (5) – Shaun Bayliss
3. Fynnstar (3) – Corey Bayliss
Time: 0:59.60
Margins: 1/2 length x neck
Race 3 – Nanango RSL Margaret And Garry Banks Memorial BenchMark 60 Handicap (1200m)
1. Simply Showtime (6) – Corey Bayliss
2. Canid (8) – Alannah Badger
3. I’m No Ruby (3) – Jag Guthmann-Chester
Time: 1:10.58
Margins: Neck x 1/2 head
Race 4 – St Mary’s Catholic College Open Handicap (1200m)
1. Seen A Host (3) – Adam Spinks
2. Vintage Moss (1) – Jedidiah Hodge
3. Foretoken (4) – Nathan Evans
Time: 1:10.44
Margins: 1 3/4 lengths x long neck
Race 5 – Heritage Nanango Film Festival BenchMark 55 Handicap (1600m)
1. Intimate Kingdom (5) – Ian Coombes
2. Rough Kiss (8) – Jason Hoopert
3. Bilo Bar (3) – Adam Spinks
Time: 1:35.02
Margins: 1 3/4 lengths x 1/2 length
- View videos all all five races on the Nanango Race Club’s YouTube Channel