September 30, 2016
Two South Burnett feature events have long-time ties to Victoria’s major cups: race meetings at Wondai and Kumbia which coincide with the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, on October 15 and November 1, respectively.
The South Burnett Race Club’s “Colours of Spring” fashion theme this year tones in well with the celebratory nature of the occasion.
Particularly for the fashionable lady who wins the exquisite and expensive watch donated by Cedric Duff, the present owner of Glendalough Brangus Stud at Bowenville.
While locals know the places in Wondai their guests would enjoy, out-of-towners should be aware of a few morning stops they can make before heading to the Showground track for the $10,000 Roy and Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup.
The first stop would be the South Burnett Timber Industry Museum and Visitor Information Centre. This complex is on the right hand side of the highway that comes in from Kingaroy.
And a minute’s walk away in the former railway station precinct is the Wondai Regional Art Gallery.
The current attractions include the annual South Burnett Art Competition that offered $6,700 in prizemoney for works by artists from the South Burnett and Cherbourg Council districts.
The depth and quality of the exhibitions will be a wonderful surprise for first-time callers.
By the way, patrons who usually take the bus to the course should be aware that the services have been discontinued.
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Weir’s Wonderful Works
Interviews with leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir are never plastic, stereotypical or mundane.
Some jockeys and conditioners are predictably empty and glossy – they exaggerate, state the obvious or avoid being frank. But Weir seems to regularly add explanatory titbits.
After Real Love won at Moonee Valley last Friday night, he promptly praised the efforts of Washpool Lodge at Aratula.
The Caulfield Cup hopeful and Black Heart Bart were two of his string that rested there after their Brisbane winter campaigns.
The free publicity was invaluable – Weir’s positive comments on nationwide television reached an audience that counts.
The runners that filled the UBet $4000 first-four at Flemington on Sunday all had Queensland winter experiences.
The Weir-trained Ulman, placed in the 2015 editions of the Sunshine Coast Guineas and Ipswich’s Eye Liner Stakes, led in Akavoroun, Federal and Hopfgarten, a trio that had all participated in this year’s carnival.
Also last weekend, the Epsom-Metropolitan winners Hauraki and Sir John Hawkwood along with Mackintosh, It’s Somewhat, Spirit Jim, Earth, Take Down, Danish Twist, Mr Individual and Maurus were all southern money-earners that had been in the Sunshine State this year.
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Dual Jockey-Trainer Issue A Nonsense
Victorian rider Michelle Payne is now able to both train and ride in her home state.
The concept is not new. The former Burnett boy Carl Spry is operating on the double basis in the Northern Territory.
This practice is permitted in parts of Queensland. Of course, there are conditions involved. Logically, jockeys cannot ride horses from other yards if their stable is represented in the race.
But New South Wales and Queensland have banned Payne from race-riding in their jurisdictions.
One of the justifications published is nonsense.
Claims that these licence-holders cannot saddle up if they are in the jockeys’ room implies that every trainer performs that duty for all their starters.
Frequently, stables have hopefuls at more than one venue.
This applies to the top liner and the bushies. Someone else deputises.
There has been many a trainer, particularly former jockeys, that wish they had been in the irons when one of their charges has been poorly or dubiously handled.
Riders with weight problems could extend their careers and earn a crust with a small string at the same time.
