April 23, 2018
The program at Wondai on Anzac Day will be a cracker, with visiting candidates coming from Miles, Oakey, Toowoomba, Clifton, Beaudesert, Caloundra, Deagon, Bundaberg, Gympie and Eidsvold.
However, locally trained South Burnett contenders are numerically dominant, with more than a third of the acceptors hailing from the catchment area.
The racing circuit at the Wondai Showgrounds is used for training purposes by the likes of Lindsay Anderson, who will saddle up Glenthorn Avenue, Liverpool Jane and Clouds; Stewart Barr (Endless Don, Heirsroc, Willy Be Lucky); Peter Blackwell (Navillus Dolly); Kristen Wenck (Ascot Bound, Nug’s Pocket); and Neville O’Toole (Scarlet’s Choice).
Nearby district stables will also be busy.
Nanango is represented by Glenn Richardson’s charges First Bid, Revelio and Urabamba and Monte Lago from Kaylene Hamilton’s yard.
Scott Pedron, with Paradiski, and Bruce Davis (Al Hamza) will journey from Kumbia.
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A Welcome Return
Glenthorn Avenue, with earnings of $177,000 from a 93:19-20-15 career line, resumes hostilities in the Wondai Hotel and Cellar-Wondai Real Estate Open Handicap (1000m) after a five months absence.
The bay, slotted to carry 60 kilograms, will have the services of his regular rider Gemma Steele as he attempts to concede all his rivals at least five kilograms.
The former Victorian sprinter boasts a remarkable record on his home sand with his 11 chores there to date yielding four wins, three seconds and two thirds.
His opponent and stablemate Liverpool Jane, with three Wondai essays so far, is yet to blot her copybook on the tight layout.
Meanwhile, Scarlet’s Choice will have supporters in the Lilivale Stud QTIS Benchmark 55 Handicap (850 metres).
She won nicely at her Queensland debut over the similar trip at Nanango at Easter and was a solid third at Gympie ten days ago at her initial try on sand.
First Bid got the job done on Bundaberg’s non-turf track in mid-March.
The impressive looking, lightly raced chestnut, unbeaten over the metric half-mile, has drawn the inside gate.
The Siderus four-year-old seems to like a space between engagements and Hannah English knows him well.
The Wondai RSL Maiden is a lottery, though.
The only runner with any raceday experience at Wondai is Willy Be Lucky.
The Bradbury’s Luck three-year-old does have sound form at Gympie and that may give him an edge.
Trainer Stewart Barr does not have an entry in the event he sponsors, namely the Lilivale Stud Handicap, so he will hope that Willy Be Lucky or Heirsroc can shed their maiden tag here and provide him with his first home-patch success.
The finale, the Wondai Digger’s Club Cup (BM 65,1475m) gives Barr another chance to breakthrough, courtesy of Endless Don, the Duporth gelding that was beaten a lip at Gympie at his most recent run.
The three kilogram claim by Gregory Hayes may prove vital over the closing stretches of the uphill straight.
Stiff resistance will come from Clouds.
His only venture at Wondai yielded an easy victory over the journey in a similar grade for Steele at the corresponding fixture last year.
However there are a few seasoned, widely travelled campaigners that could prevail without surprising.
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Finding Winners On Wednesday
For first timers and racing novices, there are a few standout guiding points when it comes to picking winners.
At the top of the list is the consideration of hopefuls with credentials at Wondai.
The racebook form guide shows this information.
Trk 3:0-0-1 means the horse has started at the track three times for no wins, no seconds and one third placing.
Some horses quickly resent the sand kickback and lose ground.
Equally, some horses prefer galloping on the softer sand surfaces as opposed to the harder grass ones.
If there is no Wondai form for the prospect you are studying, check to see if Gympie, Bundaberg, Gladstone or Roma are mentioned.
All of these are non-turf courses. However, the racetracks are very individual in nature.
If you intend backing a horse that is likely to be unfancied, do so late in the piece when the market trends are well established.
Some bookmakers are inclined to play cautiously when they open up for business.
The odds about longshots traditionally improve until some one begins investing on them.
Stick to your guns and don’t be dissuaded by experts. They can be wrong, sometimes more often than they are right.
Remember the theme is Poppies and Pearls and the first race kicks off at 1:45pm.
See you trackside!
