Cup Meeting Draws A Big Crowd

This year’s Nanango Cup was won by Crockett … trophies were presented to the trainer, jockey and owners after the race by, at back, sponsors Peter Jackson (Fitzroy Hotel), Neil Tucker (Cheers) and Dan Todoreskov (Bundaberg Rum) to, front row, trainer Michael Lakey, jockey Rebecca Wilson and owners Tristan Allen and Simon Allford

August 10, 2022

The South Burnett’s Ekka long weekend and the threat of wet weather had no effect on attendances at the region’s first meeting of the new racing year on Saturday.

After a couple of relatively quiet meetings in June, punters turned out in force for the annual Nanango Cup meet, packing the car park and concourse to enjoy a day that stayed dry throughout.

All the usual features of the Cup meeting went ahead as planned, and a bumper roll up of entries meant there were eight races on the card instead of the usual six, which forced club officials to start the day an hour earlier than usual.

This change appeared to catch some regulars by surprise, with many coming on to the course at their usual time to discover the third race being marshalled in the mounting yard.

As usual, the racing year began with the annual Blessing Of The Jockeys ceremony to wish all the region’s hoops a safe, happy and successful year of racing.

This year the ceremony was performed by Cr Kathy Duff.

After this, the club presented the winners of its annual Lee Park premiership competition with trophies.

These were won by Glenn Richardson (top trainer), his wife Hannah (top jockey) and Ask Audrey (top horse).

After these traditional Cup Day ceremonies, the meeting got under way in earnest with racing continuing until late afternoon.

However, fashionably dressed ladies and gentlemen got to show off their stylish outfits midway through the afternoon as they competed for sizable prizes in the Fashions competitions.

Rather than the usual winner’s wine packs, Saturday’s meeting offered $500 first prizes, $200 second prizes and $100 third prizes for the best male and female entrants.

These expanded rewards drew a larger-than-usual field of elegantly dressed entrants, who were judged by Gloria Fleming and Delvin Powys.

The Nanango Cup was run not long afterwards, and all eyes turned to the track to watch eight top horses and jockeys vie for the $10,000 in prize money on offer.

This year, the race was won by Crockett with jockey Rebecca Wilson aboard, which beat favourite Vinasta by a little more than half a length.

The Nanango Race Club’s next outing will be its Spring Race Meeting on Saturday, September 10.

The day began with the traditional Blessing Of The Jockeys ceremony, which this year was performed by Cr Kathy Duff after regular compere Rod Morgan was forced to withdraw due to illness (Photo: Supplied)

After the Blessings ceremony, South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto and Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green presented the trophies for the 2021-22 Premierships to Hannah Richardson (Top Jockey and Top Trainer) and the Top Horse trophy to jockey Hannah Phillips, who accepted it on behalf of the horse’s owners (Photo: Supplied)

Leon Misfeld, from Caboolture; Clinton Zemek; Kingaroy; and Isaac Walk, Kingaroy, won the second, third and first prizes respectively in the Men’s Fashions Of The Field competition

Judges Gloria Fleming, left, and Delvin Powys, at right, congratulated Women’s Fashions winners Neva Eisenmenger, from Brisbane; Verelle O’Shanesy, Jandowae, and Sue Heinemann, Mondure, for their stylish outfits

Karlie Zemek and Shae Cull, both from Kingaroy, are regular supporters of the Nanango Race Club and make a special effort to dress up for every meeting … hard work that’s won them many Fashions prizes over the years

Cr Jane Erkens and Cr Kathy Duff caught up with former South Burnett councillor (and regular racegoer) Barry Green at the track (Photo: Supplied)

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The day’s first race – which was also the first South Burnett race of the new racing year – was won by Swift Miss Fox with jockey Emily Lang aboard … the pair were congratulated by the horse’s clearly delighted connections when they returned to the mounting yard (Photo: Leisa Green)

Race 4 was sponsored by Nanango’s Star Motel and was won by Righthere Rightnow, but motel owner Andrew Beck admitted he didn’t back the winner

Results

Race 1 – National Jockeys Celebration/J. A. Lee Memorial BenchMark 50 Handicap (1000m)
1. Swift Miss Fox (12) – Emily Lang
2. Missile Magic (7) – Lilli Barr
3. Special Case (3) – Alisha Donald
Time: 1:00.99
Margins: Length x 1/2 length

Race 2 – Col Ryan Memorial QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Jumping Bean (11) – Olivia Webb
2. Dragon’s Justice (8) – Shannyn Stephan
3. In A Minute Riley (10) – Emily Lang
Time: 1:14.65
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x 3/4 length

Race 3 – Fitzroy Hotel QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Rose Of Taormina (10) – Emma MacPherson
2. Infinite Joy (8) – Hannah Richardson
3. Haz De Bee (7) – Shania Willis
Time: 1:14.65
Margins: Neck x 3 3/4 lengths

Race 4 – Star Motel Nanango BenchMark 65 Handicap (1200m)
1. Righthere Rightnow (11) – Luke Miller
2. Diggity (2) – Emily Lang
3. Sertin (12) – Shannyn Stephan
Time: 1:14.40
Margins: 1 1/4 lengths x neck

Race 5 – F.T.A Accountants BenchMark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. Jondy Rocket (5) – Lilli Barr
2. Red Monkey (4) – Rebecca Wilson
3. We All Agree (1) – Nathan Fazackerley
Time: 1:14.66
Margins: Neck x 3/4 length

Race 6 – Nanango Taxi And Limousine Service BenchMark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. Hairy Lover (2) – Paul Hamblin
2. Dixieland (10) – Lilli Barr
3. Rural Rebel (5) – Luke Miller
Time: 1:14.41
Margins: 5 lengths x neck

Race 7 – Fitzroy Hotel Cheers Bundy Rum Nanango Cup Open Handicap (1600m)
1. Crockett (3) – Rebecca Wilson
2. Muwarrad (5) – Hannah Richardson
3. Vinasta (2) – Emily Lang
Time: 1:39.18
Margins: Short head x 1/2 length

Race 8 – Heritage Bank Nanango Class B Handicap (1600m)
1. Dinny’s A Suspect (1) – Kelly Gates
2. Justaway (4) – Hannah Richardson
3. The Angel’s Kiss (2) – Lilli Barr
Time: 1:42.00
Margins: 4 1/2 lengths x length