October 14, 2022
Pat Duff, with more than six decades in the industry, was the standout at last Sunday’s TAB Thoroughbred Awards ceremony at Brisbane’s City Hall.
The announcement that the veteran Deagon mentor of horses and humans was a 2022 Racing Queensland Hall of Fame inductee triggered a heartily generous, sustained ovation.
Duff, who cut his teeth in his profession on his home track at Wondai, put the polish on the likes of Papilloma and Mick’s Luck in his early days.
Brief stints at the Gold Coast and Hendra preceded a progressive dozen years at Toowoomba.
There he chalked up his first stakes win when the Lysander Star saluted in the 1973 QTC McDougall Stakes.
Aptly, the juvenile filly was bred on the Darling Downs with genetic endowments from the Lyndhurst Stud sires Lysander and Smokey Eyes.
Among the long list of talented gallopers Duff prepared during his Clifford Park period were Our Cavalier, Handsome Prince, Euston Fire and Bay Legend.
Next up, Duff bought Athol Strong’s yard at Lilley Street near Eagle Farm.
The next move was to Peachester prior to shifting to his current base at Deagon.
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Over time, Pat has savoured a smorgasbord of stakes events ranging from numerous country cups and Townsville’s Cleveland Bay Handicap through to a Weetwood, two Toowoomba Cups, two Prime Minister’s Cups, a Magic Millions Trophy for three-year-olds and a P.J. O’Shea Stakes.
His Sydney haul embraces an STC Tancred Stakes, an AJC San Domenico Stakes and a pair of AJC Challenge Stakes.
Star of Florida, Hard Rock, Hard to Catch, Heart of the Citi, Prince of Rory, Lord Medes and Scomeld as an early two-year-old are some of his other fine performers.
Duff’s developmental role with apprentices and staff has been an incomparable effort.
Mick Pelling, Mick Dittman,Jim Byrne and Mandy Radecker were some of the prime examples while Hong Kong’s champion trainer John Size got his early break as a rookie with Pat.
Last year, the Queensland division of the Australian Trainers’ Association established the Pat Duff Trophy in recognition of the contribution made by their long-time president.
Mention must be made of Pat’s twin brother Cedric.
The proud family historian has worked as an off-sider at various times and venues.
It is also timely to recall Duff’s back to back Wondai Cup triumphs with Fasta Than Light in 2015 and Unbowed, his 2016 hero for his relative Hannah Richardson.
Pat has been a perennially strong supporter of bush racing.
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Wondai Cup Day Meeting
Despite the $12,000 total purse, the Roy and Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup (1557m) has attracted just five aspirants, but it is an intriguing affair.
The top weight Not Liable has prevailed at Wondai and is a last start winner at Tara.
Although Credenza has failed at its only attempt at the course, its last three runs on sand have been very sound.
The Showcasing (GB) gelding scored nicely over the distance at Gladstone last month and the very experienced Richardson will be aboard.
Although Daunting Warrior’s form looks unimpressive, it will be fitter for two runs after a break –
the Daunting Lad gelding put his rivals away at his only Wondai engagement.
Fend Off does have placings at Gympie and Wondai to his credit while Bellicose, a bay by Written Tycoon, is not well in at the weights.
Meanwhile, seven of the nine acceptors for the Maurie Atkins Bobcat Hire Benchmark 60 (1000m) hail from South Burnett yards.
Oakfield Comanche, owned and trained by John Hamilton, has a three from three record at Wondai.
The chestnut will be hard to toss if he can reproduce his old zip.
Kristen Roon’s hopeful Kakatiya is untried on home track, Hard Landing has 65 kilograms to contend with, Igbo is proven on this surface the course as is Gossiaux.
All up across the five events, half the runners are lodgers at South Burnett stables while the other half will travel from Chinchilla, Oakey, Toowoomba, Dalby, Beaudesert, Ipswich, Gympie, Bundaberg and Eidsvold.
Eight females will be challenged by three males for the honours on a program that features the $9,500 Monica Ryan Dermican Memorial Trophy QTIS (1577m).
Wonder if the ladies can sweep the card? Such an outcome would bring back memories of March 1990 at the track when Monica, with four wins, and a win apiece by Jo Downes, Debbie Osborne and Jenny Cochrane meant that all seven races were taken out by female riders.
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Good Luck, Nicole!
In July 2019, Nicole Vuille was in the winner’s slot at Wondai as the strapper for Glenn Richardson’s charge Schindler.
She would love to be in the same spot on Saturday but this time she will be wearing racing silk.
Vuille was seriously injured at Dingo in 2016 when Rahula’s barrier gate malfuncioned.
She made a comeback to the race day saddle when fifth at Gayndah.
On Friday at Kilcoy, she partners The Angels Kiss, a winner for her as a trainer at Gatton in January.
Nicole is booked for Oakfield Comanche, Ivaness and Red Monkey.
Given that the July fixture was washed out, there will be plenty of interest for racegoers, particularly with the Caulfield Cup and The Everest set down for decision in the south.
Remember: it is a Pretty in Pink day and there are no ATMs on course.
It will be a great day to be trackside – see you there!
