April 23, 2022
After Hannah and Glenn Richardson advanced their attack for premiership honours at Nanango on Easter Saturday, a different clash will unfold at Wondai on Monday.
Forces from the north-west and near north-east will seek supremacy in the $9,500 Maurie Atkins Bobcat Hire Burnett to Beach Benchmark 55 (1577m), the seventh leg of an eleven part series.
Further editions of the contest that respectively offers $6,600, $3,300 and $1,100 for the top horse, trainer and jockey will follow at Burrandowan (May 7), Bundaberg (June 14), Gympie (June 18) and Nanango (June 25).
With the allocation of points ranging from ten down to one, there is plenty of scope for changes on the tally board.
Kym Afford, the Kilkivan based owner-trainer who also works his string at Wondai, holds pride of place at the moment with 53 points.
Modern Family, his major contributor with 35 points, is not adept on the sand and is likely to have a crack at the Burrandowan edition.
Afford’s nearest rival is Bob Murray.
The Eidsvold mentor will be represented on Anzac Day by Ourlastpenny (20) and My Certain (11).
Kakatiya (22), prepared at Wondai by Kristen Roon, will not be appearing on Monday. The stablemate Vizone, after a tidy third at Nanango, is set to compete in the Peries IGA Maiden Plate (850m).
Jockey Kelly Gates (32) is looking to extend her lead in her category on Ourlastpenny.
Her nearest rival, Shannyn Stephan (27), will be aboard Afford’s hope Elusive Element (4), while Hannah Richardson (14) aims to make ground on Jackie Crompton’s charge Foxy Rose (6).
Racing Queensland pulled the right rein in opting to stage two divisions of the QTIS Class 1 Handicap.
There were 17 acceptors with 11 having a chance of earning a QTIS bonus. A single race would have catered for just ten aspirants.
There is no doubt that the QTIS scheme boosts participation.
Trainer Clinton Taylor, who is trekking down from Rockhampton, has booked journeyman jockey Justin Stanley to partner Attackabeel in the feature and also for Sonic Arrow in the Murgon Bakery Ratings 0-60 Handicap.
Both contenders have suitable grass form but it is a different ball game on the sand.
Newcomers to racing should check out the non-turf history of candidates at the likes of Wondai, Gympie and Bundaberg.
Best wishes are also extended to Hannah Phillips – the South Burnett hoop is back in action at Wondai after injuries sidelined her for three months.
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The Richardsons Cement Their Claims
There are eleven races programmed across two meetings for the remainder of Nanango Race Club’s season, and competition for the club’s premierships is heating up.
Trainer Patrick Sexton, currently with a 3-1-1 scoreline, will have opportunities on May 21 and June 25 to peg back Glenn Richardson (6-3-3 ) as Lee Park’s top trainer.
Jockey Hannah Richardson (7-2-3) is long odds on to retain her title as Lee Park’s leading rider.
Gemma Steele, her closest challenger, presently has two wins and two thirds to her credit.
The Richardsons landed a double on Easter Saturday.
In the Ken Mills Toyota Maiden Plate, Informer chalked up an overdue breakthrough while Suffice showed improvement in taking out the Pursers Buses BM 60.
Both gallopers produced on-pace displays.
Hannah showed her versatility by also grabbing the Heritage Bank BM 55 over the metric mile with Craiglea Bandit.
This was no steal as the Sunshine Coast gelding was a long way back in the middle stages and Richardson had to weave a passage in the straight.
It was also great to see Mel Cox in a victorious mode on Dee Jay Cee in the Nanango Caravan Service and Repairs QTIS Maiden Plate (800m).
The Deagon based hoop was injured at Bundaberg back in June 2020, and didn’t return to racing until last month when she sported silk at Esk, Chinchilla and Monto.
The ninth ride in her comeback bore fruit and she has three engagements at Wondai.
Racegoers have six races to entertain them at Wondai on Monday.
Anzac Day racing around the nation is always something special and the tradition is very strong on the South Burnett Race Club’s major meeting.
See you there!
