July 22, 2019
The 2019 XXXX Fitzroy Hotel Cheers Liquor House Nanango Cup is now less than a fortnight away … and as usual, it looks set to be one of the biggest race meetings of the year.
Given that the Moffatdale Ridge Wines fashion theme for the August 3 meeting is Classic Black and White, it is timely to recall the race’s outcome in May 1989.
Three decades ago Gentle Persuasion, a Gist filly prepared by Jim Bannon at Toowoomba, had a classic mission in her own sights that year.
She had missed making the lineup for her key city lead into the Queensland Oaks and it was winter carnival time, so Bannon had to settle on the shorter Nanango feature.
The three-year-old scored narrowly at Nanango’s Cup meeting that year, before going on to run third to Triumphal Queen on a heavy Eagle Farm surface in the Oaks.
The presentation of trophies to the 2018-19 premiership winners will also take place at Nanango’s August 3 meeting.
Locals Glenn Richardson and Hannah English have successfully defended their respective top trainer and leading jockey titles, while Machu Picchu – twice a winner on home turf during the season – has taken out the Horse Of The Year award for Brian and Darren Laherty.
Before the first race, Rod Morgan will lead the annual Blessing Of The Jockeys ceremony that pays tribute to the vital and dangerous contributions jockeys make to the industry.
It is also a time to wish the riders well for the brand new season.
A memorial race for John Lee, Nanango Race Club’s former long-serving president, will be part of the six race card.
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A Different Horse-Powered Attraction
There will be a substantial buzz at Lee Park on Cup day with the presence of around 200 people from the 55 teams participating in the Fraser Coast Dunga Derby.
Car enthusiasts should check out frasercoast.dungaderby.com.au for details of the crews and automobiles involved in the fund-raiser for Rally For A Cause.
The organisation is a community charity that supports families and individuals affected by life-limiting medical conditions or have had their lives disrupted by circumstances beyond their control.
The event, which runs from August 1-4, is not a race. It is a round trip adventure from Hervey Bay to the bush.
Dunga cars should have been purchased for under $2,000 and need to be more than 10 years old.
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Bits And Bridles
- There is an extra reason to set a horse for the Kumbia Cup on Melbourne Cup day, November 5. The contest is part of the Country Cups Challenge that is being staged at 16 tracks around the State. Gympie also hosts a heat on Cox Plate Day, October 26. The format is similar to the recent Battle of the Bush, with a $105,000 final at Doomben on November 30.
- Jockey Kelly Gates is recovering well following her pre-race mishap at Wondai earlier this month. Kelly broke her collar bone and a rib, had surgery on Thursday and expects to return in about four weeks.
- Racing patrons are reminded that it is renewal time for annual membership of several race clubs. The offers represent very useful savings. Nanango, for instance, has a Members’ Bar and a member and a guest only pay $66 to attend the club’s six meetings each year, which is a discount of about 50 per cent (the fee for an individual is $35 and those under 26 only pay $25)
- 2019-20 South Burnett race club membership information is available for Nanango (phone Leisa Green on 0438-304-961), Wondai (Christienne Nettlefield, 0499-873-269), Kumbia (Wendy Mathews, 41630-7200) and Burrandowan (Trish Christie, 0429-771-411)
