July 13, 2019
Last Saturday’s South Burnett Race Club’s meeting was a time of mixed emotions.
On one hand, two groups were remembering the lives of lost loved ones. And on the other, district gallopers took the honours.
The sudden death last month of Robin Hartwig, a former long-term trainer and staunch club stalwart, ended a marvellous involvement of a talented horseman and turf supporter.
His contributions to Wondai stretched back for more than four decades.
Robin became an S.B.R.C member in 1975.
Six years later he took up training, collecting seven local premierships between 1986 and 2002.
He picked up a Brisbane city event with Station Sunset.
Minna Marie, a grey mare by Royal Yacht, was a handy cuddy and My Finale, Princess Dignitas and Ivanhoe Devil were just some of the many thoroughbreds he greeted at a winner’s circle.
Hartwig had a long and fruitful association with his apprentice Cheryl Crosby (now Dennien).
She was a leading rider in her day.
“Robin really taught me how to have a clock in my head and judge pace. The timing developed through practice while riding trackwork,” Cheryl said as she fondly recalled that, with her master’s help, she was the first female to outride her claim.
“Fifty-six wins were recorded in eighteen months,” she added on Saturday between her tasks as a barrier attendant.
The Hartwig and Crosby pairing prospered with Fair Summer’s son Ormiston, the runner-up in Townsville, Rockhampton and Kilcoy Cups.
Robin’s dedication to his community embraced aiding the pony club, assisting with track maintenance and general race day preparations.
It was fitting that Lindsay Anderson saddled up Clouds, the hero in the Lewis Duff Memorial Handicap (1100m).
The Hivesville trainer’s team do their fast work at Wondai.
Naturally he and Hartwig were great mates.
Condolences are extended to Robin’s wife Robyn, his children Scott and Melody, the extended family and his numerous friends.
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Clouds Had Them Covered
Despite the start the pacemaker Viceman had on him at the half way point, jockey Matthew Powell was always confident that Clouds, the well named gelding by Bradbury’s Luck from Sky Bid, was heading for his ninth career triumph.
The lightly raced seven-year-old motored swiftly up the straight and swept clear over the final part.
Anderson had the evens favourite that prefers trips around 1400 to 1600 metres well tuned for his first chore in more than two months.
Earlier, Quatro Amigos (Amy Van Der Sanden, $7.50), prepared at Bundaberg by Darryl Gardiner took out the Kevin Duff Memorial Maiden (1100 m) to give bookmakers a sound kick off for the program.
Kilkivan based mentor Kym Afford also uses the Wondai circuit for aspects of his string’s preparation.
Star Painter ($5), his entry in the Stephanie Duff Memorial BM 60 (850m), comfortably took his statistics for the course to 3:2-0-0.
The bay was handled by Hannah Phillips, the Nanango apprentice who booted home Imabarman ($12) at Dalby on Thursday.
The Neal Duff Memorial BM 65 (1465m) went to the Sunshine Coast mare (Louise Dillon, $6).
The name of the horse that fought so well means “great huntress” while her dam Diana Cazadora was named for a female Mexican wrestler.
The blue and white crossbelts on the jacket carried by the runner-up Craigslea Cetina was reminiscent of Hartwig’s livery.
The quinella gallopers engaged in a very long duel with a half length the difference at the post.
Grande Casadora’s mentor Trevor Thomas had previously won a Duff Memorial event,
Anna Bakos continued on her winning way for the Glenn Richardson yard with a last gasp snatch by the sweeper Schindler ($4) in the Wondai Electrical Services BM 50 (1100 m).
In a finish that was incredibly close to a dead heat, the second placed My Certain did not enjoy any lucky breaks in running.
Richardson was also successful with On A Comet (Hannah English, $1.90) at Warra.
His four runs for the stable have yielded two wins, a second and a fourth.
Unfortunately the More Than Ready gelding bled and will be off the scene for at least three months.
English claimed the first at Toowoomba in the evening on General Cos ($10) for Toowoomba conditioner Neville Saunders.
* * *
Bits And Bridles
- The Duff family members were out in force at Wondai. On the occasion that paid tribute to his father and three siblings, Cedric Duff was understandably proud of the fact that his father Lewis took up a selection at Burrandowan Station some 109 years ago.
- Meanwhile, Cedric’s twin brother Pat had runners at Toowoomba and Doomben where his hopeful Spurious missed by a head when second at 100/1 in the juvenile handicap.
- This weekend, Brian and Darren Laherty’s game mare Machu Picchu takes on the Doomben 0MW for fillies and mares. Hannah English will again pilot the sprinter that has drawn a middle gate at the 1200 metre start.
- First Bid (Hannah Phillips, $151) gave Janene Armstrong and Barry Goodwill a thrill when the Sidereus chestnut was beaten less than two lengths in Class 2 company at Dalby.
- Mark it up: the $10,000 Nanango Cup (1600m) will be decided on August 3. Classic black and white will be the fashion look for the feature meeting.
