October 14, 2021
Three years ago, South Burnett identities Wayne and Eleanor Kratzmann headed to Victoria to pursue a new adventure.
The couple linked up with Henry Dwyer Racing.
Eleanor is presently the General Manager while Wayne is the Ballarat organisation’s Sales and Owner Liaison Manager.
Last Saturday, Honorable Spirit, a gelding by Charm Spirit (Ire) that they part-own, collected the Queensland Cup (Listed, 2400m) at Eagle Farm.
Sharing the joy courtesy of their membership of Kratzie No 5 Syndicate were the Kingaroy trio Greg and Annette Sprenger and Scott McLennan, along with John Lobban and Peter Frohlich who hail from the Bunya Mountains.
The Victorian bred galloper broke through for Australia.
The previous eight Cups had gone to thoroughbreds that first saw light of day in New Zealand, Ireland, France, Germany or England.
Honorable Spirit, a grandson of Invincible Spirit, is endowed with the genes of Zabeel and Montjeu, notable sires of fine stayers.
The runner-up in the recent Toowoomba Cup has now chalked up five wins, three seconds and a third from his last ten tasks for Gold Coast conditioner John Smerdon.
The lightly raced Charm Spirit, owned by Sheikh Fahad and the Royal Family of Qatar, was on the shuttle roster at New Zealand’s Windsor Park Stud.
The bay’s nine outings on the turf harvested six wins including a Group One hat-trick in France and England.
* * *
Seeking Another Trophy At Wondai
On Saturday, the Kratzmanns, along with the Kratzie No 11 Syndicate stakeholders John Lobban and Peter Frohlich, have a shot at another thrill.
They have an interest in Fend Off, the Shocking gelding that will sport trainer Lindsay Anderson’s polish in the $12,000 Roy and Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup (1577m).
Fend Off earned less than $3000 from five appearances for Henry Dwyer’s team in 2020.
In the spring, the Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell and some Melbournians sold out of the grandson of Mamzelle Pedrille, a seven times stakes winner by Zoffany.
Fend Off’s first seven northern starts yielded victories at Bell and Caloundra and placings at Dalby and Gatton.
After scoring at Nanango and finishing second at Wondai over 1575 metres in April, Fend Off was rested.
In late September the lightly raced five-year-old battled on well for sixth after leading at Caloundra, and importantly the 100/1 pop was less than a length and three quarters astern of the winner.
He was the pacemaker again at the same course on October 3 over 1600 metres.
This time, the bay was a mere head shy of the first prize.
The winner of the Wondai Cup qualifies for the $105,000 Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on December 4.
Mahratta bolted in with last year’s Cup at his only Wondai appearance to date.
Barry Gill’s charge is very adept on the sand with successes at Gladstone, Bundaberg and his home track Gympie to his credit.
It will pay to overlook his recent last on the grass at Caloundra.
Given that the Equiano gelding’s seven previous runs had put together two wins, three seconds, a third and a fourth, the eight-year-old is surely a game competitor.
This season, the topweight Mr Tickets has registered a Talwood win and a Goondiwindi second.
The winner of more than a quarter of million dollars in prizemoney will appreciate the drop in weight.
Zeditave’s grandson, a placegetter at Bundaberg, is making his Wondai debut.
The other positive pointers are that Paul Hamblin will be the pilot and the trip will be right up the Toowoomba performer’s alley.
Sugar Buzz has strong claims following his easy win over the course and distance in July.
The chestnut’s rider Billie-Rose Andrew knows him well.
Eskdale Girl’s last three efforts have been excellent on the grass.
The mare was beaten a nose the $30,000 Cups at Dalby and Warwick.
A sound Doomben fourth in soft going split those results.
The negative factor is that she has not raced on Wondai’s sand before … but the opportunity to ensure a passage into the Country Cups challenge is quite a carrot.
Credenza, the Nanango hopeful, is up in class.
However the Showcasing four-year-old has form at Gympie and Bundaberg that encourages consideration.
Although the widely travelled Chamberlain failed at Wondai’s July fixture, the veteran has prevailed on the sand at Bundaberg whereas Gratsie is very inexperienced on non-turf tracks.
The Cup is a fascinating affair because a reason can be found to support each of the candidates.
* * *
Remembering Monica
Last year’s corresponding Wondai program was patron-free and people did not get to share memories of the late Monica Ryan’s excellent career in the saddle, or to acknowledge her wonderful life in general.
Fittingly, the 2021 Monica Ryan-Demircan Memorial QTIS Benchmark 50 (1577m) will have the maximum number of runners and the majority of the riders will be female.
Monica’s four wins at Wondai on March 24, 1990 were historic.
The famous Miller’s Guide recorded the fact that the ladies made a clean sweep of the seven event card with Jo Downes, Debbie Osborne and Jenny Cochrane chipping in with a first placegetter each.
Trainer Tom Moloney and jockey Isabella Teh were on top last year with Diggity.
The pair are trying for an encore this time around with My Taranaki, the Tavistock mare that beat all bar Sugar Buzz here on July 31.
Oakfield Comanche and Hannah Phillips also graced the winner’s circle twelve months ago.
Owner-trainer John Hamilton’s Dream Ahead gelding is resuming after a break in the opener, the Sawmill Motel Hotel BM 60 (1000m).
The chestnut that has the perfect two from two record at the home of the South Burnett Race Club also boasts a fine first up form line.
Do remember that the Fashion theme is Spring Floral and that there are no ATM facilities at the track.
While there will be some great local action to enjoy, there is another Cup scheduled for Caulfield.
Most Queenslanders will be hoping that the favourite Incentivise can overcome the extreme outside gate and give the state its first triumph since the Ron Dillon-Fred Clarke team achieved it with Bore Head in 1965.
Incentivise was prepared in Toowoomba by Steve Tregea before relocating to the Melbourne yard of Peter Moody, the horseman who cut his teeth at Wyandra near Charleville.
See you there!
- Related article: Full Fields For Wondai Races
