May 27, 2021
Saturday’s Autumn race meeting at Nanango attracted a good crowd as well as a bumper field of nominations.
The club scheduled seven races – not often seen at Lee Park – which were watched live on screens across Australia thanks to TAB coverage which enabled punters to place bets away from the track.
Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green said Saturday was the first time the TAB has covered a meeting at Lee Park, but it won’t be the last.
TAB has already booked next year’s Autumn meeting for a return visit.
Out on the track, keen punters who backed local jockey Hannah Phillips to take out Race 1 had plenty of reasons to celebrate when Copsinthedonutshop narrowly reached the winning post ahead of its nearest rival.
The six-year-old mare – owned by the Curtain family at Kumbia – attracted a thumping $34 payout.
It hadn’t raced since 2017 and had only one previous outing, back as a two-year-old when it came in 8th over 1000m at Dalby.
Meanwhile, punters who followed Toowoomba jockey Ty Wheeler enjoyed one of the longest winning streaks seen at the course after he won Race 2 and then went on to win the third, fourth and fifth races for good measure.
As usual, the popular Fashions Of The Field competition attracted a good roll-up of patrons who dressed in green to match the day’s fashion’s theme.
Cr Kathy Duff rounded up competitors from the crowd and Mayor Brett Otto shared the judging duties with Cr Roz Frohloff and former jockey Deb Dennien.
The Autumn race meeting was Kingaroy’s St Mary’s Catholic College annual day at the track, and many teachers and parents took the opportunity to enjoy a day at the races.
Saturday’s outing also marked the 10th anniversary of the Nanango RSL Margaret and Garry Banks Memorial Trophy – named in honour of RSL and race club stalwarts Garry and Margaret Banks – and would have marked the 11th if the pandemic hadn’t led to the cancellation of last year’s Autumn meeting.
A large party of Banks family members came to the track and took great delight presenting prizes to the winner of Race 3.
The region’s next race meeting will be the South Burnett Race Club’s Winter meet at Wondai’s Showgrounds on Saturday, July 3.
Nanango will then kick off a new racing year with its Spring Race Meeting at Lee Park on Saturday, August 7.
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Results
Race 1 – South Burnett Motors Maiden Plate (800m)
1. Copsinthedonutshop (6) – Hannah Phillips
2. Tropics (5) – Chelsea Jokic
3. Raining Riches (10) – Hannah Richardson
Time: 0:45.42
Margins: Short 1/2 head x 3 1/4 lengths
Race 2 – FTA Accountants BenchMark 55 Handicap (800m)
1. Curry Connection (8) – Ty Wheeler
2. She’s Crowned (2) – Jasmine Cornish
3. Godfather’s Girl (1) – Hannah Richardson
Time: 0:45.54
Margins: 1/2 head x 3/4 length
Race 3 – Nanango RSL/Margaret & Garry Banks Memorial QTIS Class 2 Handicap (1000m)
1. Magic In Me (2) – Ty Wheeler
2. Bay Of Dragons (6) – Jasmine Cornish
3. Sherwood Prince (4) – Hannah Richardson
Time: 0:57.78
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x 3/4 length
Race 4 – Fitzroy Hotel Nanango BenchMark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. Ringo’s Magic (4) – Ty Wheeler
2. Coffee Coming (10) – Brendon Newport
3. Toy Whitty (2) – Robert Faehr
Time: 1:10.96
Margins: 3/4 length x length
Race 5 – St Mary’s Catholic College BenchMark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. Mont Mont (2) – Ty Wheeler
2. Petite Elle (7) – Bradley Appo
3. Primmiscuous (6) – Kenji Yoshida
Time: 1:10.49
Margins: 3 lengths x short head
Race 6 – McDonalds Kingaroy Ratings Band 0-65 Handicap (1200m)
1. Rocky Nugget (2) – Jasmine Cornish
2. Blue Tycoon (3) – Zac Lloyd
3. Outback Storm (8) – Vishan Venkaya
Time: 1:09.30
Margins: 2 1/2 lengths x 5 lengths
Race 7 – Heritage Bank Nanango BenchMark 60 Handicap (1600m)
1. Craiglea Arion (5) – Hannah Richardson
2. Spurious (11) – Chris Meehan
3. Emshalky (2) – Chelsea Jokic
Time: 1:35.38
Margins: 2 lengths x 1/2 length
