Warriors In Wait

Klammer has an important assignment coming up … the bay is pictured with Glenn Richardson and his mother Glenda preparing him for a Nanango engagement last year (Photo: Ross Stanley)

June 15, 2018

Weights have been issued for the $100,000 Battle of the Bush Series Final (1200m) at Doomben on June 23.

The 16 Qualifier winners are all assured of a place, and if the winner of a qualifying heat does not accept next Wednesday, the runner-up for that heat will be the first choice replacement.

The event, in which apprentices cannot claim, is for horses that have not won in the metropolitan area in the past two years.

Nanango’s two representatives are Klammer and Canid.

They are both trained by Glenn Richardson and took out the Qualifiers at Warwick and Nanango respectively.

The handicaps appear below.

Note: The asterisk (*) shows the assessment if the minimum of 54 kilograms was not in play (for example, Canid, with his current Rating of 60 would have been given only 45 kilograms).

Travel rebates range from $500 for the Eastern Downs and South East Queensland contenders to $2,000 for those hailing from the Far North and North West.

For country folk who rarely patronise Doomben, the card is attractive with the $500,000 Group One Tatt’s Tiara for the fillies and mares, the Tattersall’s Cup and the W.J. Healy Stakes set down for decision.

The contest for country cuddies adds a new and exciting element to the mix.

The obvious backup interest for the South Burnett turf enthusiasts lies with runners prepared by two supporters of the area’s meetings.

Bevan Johnson’s hopefuls are Fab’s Cowboy – a winner at Wondai – and Exstratum.

Darryl Gardiner’s aspirant is the Monto Punters Club’s Emperor Maximilian, a fourth placegetter at Wondai on Anzac Day.

Go Get Sum, the minor placegetter behind Canid and Revelio in the Lee Park leg, made the line up by taking out the offering at Goondiwindi on June 2.

The all-important barrier draw for Tattersall’s Racing Club’s feature events takes place in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall around 9:30am next Wednesday (June 20).

The battlers from the bush will tread this pre-combat pathway at Doomben on June 23 (Photo: Ross Stanley)

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Deserving Honours

Roy Radunz looked chipper and chirpy at the Nanango meeting last month, and no doubt he will have the usual spring in his step at the upcoming Wondai meeting.

The longevity of his linkage with the South Burnett Race Club is legendary.

The awarding of an Order of Australia Medal in the recent Queen’s Birthjday Honours is a fine way for his efforts to be recognised.

Roy and his wife Glenis have been, and still are, stalwarts for the club.

The couple have also been supportive of the district by attending countless meetings at neighbouring courses.

Mention also needs to be made of Bart Sinclair, a recent receiptient of an O.A.M.

Although the scope of his racing media career is well known, his work over the decades to assist rural racing has been very extensive.

His father, named Andrew Barton after Banjo Paterson, hailed from Eidsvold.

Barty Senior belongs to the rare set of horseman that rode and trained Group One winners.

He was aboard Tragopan (1940 Brisbane Cup) and saddled up Mullala (1963 Stradbroke Handicap) and Minto Crag (1968 Queensland Derby).

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Calendar Markings

You already should have a ring around Saturday, July 7 so you don’t forget it is Wondai’s Winter Wonderland Race Day.

Connections are reminded that the program includes one of those attractive QTIS Bonus races.

For the eligible candidates, the 1100 metre Maiden Plate carries purses of $14,500 for fillies and four-year-old mares, $12,000 for the males five-years-old or younger and $7,000 for non-QTIS stock.

Speaking of race dates, following is the South Burnett racing schedule over the coming year through to June 30, 2019.