Wondai Celebrates Cup Day

South Burnett Race Club patron Roy Radunz and his wife Glenis presented this year’s Wondai Cup to Not Liable’s part-owner, former jockey Lyall Appo

October 18, 2022

The South Burnett Race Club’s biggest meeting of the year attracted an enthusiastic crowd to the Wondai track on Saturday.

The meeting coincides with the running of The Everest at Randwick and the Caulfield Cup at Flemington which always ensures plenty of action in the bookies’ ring.

There was a tinge of extra sadness this year, with the running of two races named in memory of well-known former local residents.

The Monica Ryan Demircan Memorial Trophy has become an annual event at Wondai, named after former jockey Monica Ryan who was part of an historic meeting in Wondai when she won four out of the seven races (and the other three were also won by female jockeys).

The winner is awarded the Monica Ryan Perpetual Trophy marking that day in March 1990 when female jockeys rode the program.

Sadly, Monica lost her battle with cancer in October 2020.

The Kathleen Hoult Memorial is named after another member of the Ryan family, Wondai Wolves’ stalwart, Kathleen (nee Ryan) who died earlier this year.

Members of the extended Ryan, Hoult and Demircan families flocked to the course for a big day in memory of their much-loved relatives.

On the track, there were some incidents with late scratchings at the barriers in three races when horses either failed to load or became entangled in the equipment.

A small field keenly contested the main race, the Roy & Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup, which was taken out by Not Liable, with Lilli Barr on board.

Members of the Hoult and Ryan families with the jockeys ahead of the running of Races 3 and 4, the Kathleen Hoult Memorial and the Monica Ryan Demircan Memorial

Best Dressed Girl … Paityn O’Neill, 5, Wondai

Best Dressed Boy … Ryan O’Neill, 7, Wondai

Best Dressed Couple … Charlie Plant and Izzy Lindley

Charlie Plant was also sashed Best Dressed Gentleman

The impressive line-up for the Ladies’ Fashions Of The Field competition … if you couldn’t guess, the race day theme was “Pretty In Pink”

Fashions of the Field organiser Cr Kathy Duff with judges Debbie Dennien, Nick Otto and Mortimer Duff and competition winner, Karyn Gallan, from the Sunshine Coast (second from left)

Marilyn McCabe, at back, with Karyn Gallan and Wayne Loane … the trio travelled from the Sunshine Coast

Cr Kathy Duff in a familiar role shepherding the Fashions of the Field competition

Bernie Cauley and Anita Baker, Sunshine Coast

Peter and Lee Sullivan, from Cooloolabin

Calib Harris, Patricia Blinco and Amy and Kira Prickett, all from Ballogie

Nishadi Amarasinghe and Sara Barnes, both from Wondai; and Phoebe Sleeman, Murgon, were enjoying a day at the races

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Race Results

Race 3 winner Tropics gallops to the line more than five lengths ahead of his nearest rival

Race 1 – Maurie Atkins Bobcat Hire BenchMark 60 Handicap (1000m)
1. Takemeoutback (7) – Lilli Barr
2. Igbo (5) – Kelly Gates
3. Oakfield Comanche (3) – Nicole Vuille
Time: 0:58.00
Margins: 3/4 length x 5 3/4 lengths

Race 2 – Smithfield Feedlot Maiden Plate (850m)
1. Daulat Machtignaga (2) – Lilli Barr
2. Ivaness (6) – Nicole Vuille
3. Bring The Romance (3) – Gemma Steele
Time: 0:50.60
Margins: 1/2 length x 8 lengths

Race 3 – Kathleen Hoult Memorial Class B Handicap (850m)
1. Tropics (2) – Chelsea Jokic
2. Whistlin’ Ruler (3) – Hannah Richardson
3. Rasheed (4) – Kelly Gates
Time: 0:49.85
Margins: 5 1/4 lengths x 2 lengths

Race 4 – The Monica Ryan Demircan Memorial Trophy QTIS BenchMark 50 Handicap (1577m)
1. Foxy Rose (7) – Ben Moffat
2. Dinny’s A Suspect (5) – Kelly Gates
3. Mr Maharaj (4) – Rebecca Wilson
Time: 1:39.77
Margins: 2 3/4 lengths x long neck

Race 5 – The Roy & Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup Open Handicap (1577m)
1. Not Liable (1) – Lilli Barr
2. Bellicose (5) – Adam Spinks
3. Daunting Warrior (3) – Ian French
Time: 1:39.00
Margins: 2 1/4 lengths x 1 3/4 lengths