April 28, 2017
Punters who followed a well-entrenched racing principle would have cleaned up at South Burnett Race Club’s Anzac Day fixture.
When it comes to non-turf events, it is considered wise to back candidates with proven experience on surfaces that are very giving.
These courses are also inclined to create throw back in the faces of those astern of the leader.
In short, some horses go well in these circumstances while others are reluctant to go a yard.
Four of five winners at Wondai on Tuesday had worthwhile previous form on sand tracks.
The exception was Kuramos in the Commercial Hotel Kingaroy Maiden (1100m).
Hannah Phillips partnered the Darryl Gardiner-trained galloper whose seven-career appearances had all been in Rockhampton, which meant he had to be taken on trust at his first attempt.
The runner-up Triple Won was suitably qualified, having recorded recent placings at Bundaberg and Gympie.
The rest of the cohort had either been untried or disappointing.
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The Wondai RSL Sub Branch Open (1100m) represented a classic, quality clash between tried and true sand campaigners, and it was one of three battles which produced winning margins of less than a length.
Gympie based Shoulda to Shoulda and the local Glenthorn Avenue fought out a sterling finish with Eidsvold lodger James Is Blonde, seeking five in a row, picking up the minor place money.
The third placegetter’s recent streak included two successes at Bundaberg.
This race ran to form with the first four home all at odds of $3.60 or shorter.
Like My Brother (Shaun Bayliss) outshone his stablemate James Is Blonde by scoring in the Wondai Diggers Club Cup BM 50 (1100m).
Bob Murray saddled up the Strategic gelding that took out a similar contest at Gympie last month.
The South Burnett broke back in the Datawave Internet and Computers BM 45 (850m) with Kaylene Hamilton’s charge Monte Lago (Billie-Rose Derbyshire) and Kumbia’s I Am McLovin (Jason Hoopert) filling the exacta.
The victor, yet to miss a place on the sand, made it two from two at Wondai while the runner-up moved his form line for the course to 5:4-1-0.
Derbyshire was in the zone, too, having registered a double at Chinchilla three days earlier.
Lindsay Anderson helped his fine strike along with the warm favourite Clouds in the Hotel Cecil Wondai BM 65 (1465m).
The grey by Bradbury’s Luck has been on the podium after all three Queensland outings, and the five-year-old’s northern debut yielded a second on the sand at Bundaberg.
So take an early tip: look out for aspirants with prior achievements around the Burrandowan circuit when you head there on Saturday fortnight.
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The Two Hannahs Prosper
Hannah Phillips was in good form in the past seven days, landing a double at Kilcoy last Saturday with Expat Envy and Jeptoo, and a victory and a close second on Chase’N’Mason at Wondai on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Hannah English’s decision to slip over from Chinchilla to Toowoomba last weekend proved fruitful.
She was lined up with a late ride when the emergency Bleu gained a start.
The Ken Waller trained commodity saluted at 40/1.
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Burrandowan Beckons
May 13 marks the renewal of the time honoured program at Burrandowan, 60km west of Kingaroy.
Checking out the Burrandowan Race Club’s comprehensive website is the first task for prospective patrons.
It is important to note the popular camping options, as well as the need to pre-book hampers and seats at the High Tea.
Don’t be disappointed – it is best to plan now for this very special occasion.
Burandowan is in a true-blue bush setting, but also shows the style and flair of a contemporary town race day.
It is a great mix!
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Bits And Bridles
- At first glance, it seemed unusual that four horses were withdrawn from the third race at Chinchilla last Saturday because there were insufficient riders. It was the $10,000 Landmark All Lady Riders Bracelet- Battle of Passchendale BM 65 Handicap.
- Having 11 female jockeys turn up was a bridge too far. Although the fairer sex are strong in numbers on Queensland tracks, the club did well to have seven compete. It is interesting to look over the Queensland statistics for April 22. All up there were 47 lady jockeys in action, including three counted twice because they competed at two different venues on the day. As a group, they chalked up 24 winners. The breakdown is as follows: Chinchilla had 7 riders for two victories. Cairns (4,1), Doomben (7,3), Gold Coast (4,3), Kilcoy (10,5), Toowoomba (6,4), Winton (3,2) and Yeppoon (6,4).
- Every best wish is extended to Chelsea Jokic. The dedicated and much travelled lass appears to have suffered head injuries after a workout fall after the Mackay races last week.
- A question for trivia night compilers to note: which Queensland trainer provided all 14 nominations for the XXXX Gold Class 6 Plate at Yeppoon on April 22, 2017? Eventually six lined up. For the record the first three in were: Three Henrys (Dakota Graham $3.50), Sunbury (Natalea Summers, $2.50), Dragon Rocket (Zoe White, $10). The favourite Albert The Rocket (Quayde Krogh, $2.20) ran last. The answer? John Manzelmann.
