Huge Crowd At Wondai's Big Day - southburnett.com.au

A bunch of proud Wolves’ fans … Nicky Geysing, Brittany Holding, Holly Patton and Sarah Hebble-Clarke with Ruby Francis, 11, and Khoa Hedges, 9, all from Wondai

April 28, 2023

A huge crowd headed to the Wondai Racecourse on Tuesday to relax and socialise after the morning’s Anzac Day commemorations around the region.

It was a bumper turnout for a bumper meeting, with six races on the card to keep the punters happy.

The fashion theme was “Poppies and Pearls” with many in the crowd obliging with Anzac Day poppies being worn in abundance.

The Fashions Of The Field competition (see below) was relocated back to its old position in front of the former grandstand and hotly contested.

The three judges, Sophie Angel, Aliesha Johnston and Melanie Kimball, emphasised that picking the winners had been very hard.

Local fashion icon Verelle O’Shanesy, from Kingaroy, was sashed the women’s winner.

On the track, the racing went off without a hitch although some timing issues had officials scrambling behind the scenes.

The winner of the prestigious Wondai Diggers Cup was Hard Landing, which was coming off a win at Ipswich.

It was ridden by Paul Hamblin, trained by Pat Duff and owned by members of the Duff and Otto families.

Rebecca Dennis, from Murgon, with Maddie and Aleta Pitstock, from Goomeri

Jacob Wiley, Tansey, and Brooke Rutledge, Wondai, with Jorja Ryan, Laiken Smith and Hayden Wieck, all from Kingaroy

Cr Kathy Duff with Murgon Mustangs Rugby League Club president Wayne Gscheidle, Murgon

Kiara Harris, from Kingaroy, and Indy Eriksen, Cushnie

Graham Wilson, Helen Schafffer, Andrew Arthur, Lisa Wilson, Claudia Cochrane and Lachlan Boyce … all from Kingaroy

Cr Kirstie Schumacher with her husband Wayne and children, Decklan, 13, and Grace, 10

Winners are grinners! Neil Burrows, from the Wondai RSL Sub-Branch, presented the Diggers Cup trophy to Hard Landing’s connections … Mayor Brett Otto and his father Trevor; Mortimer Duff, Cr Kathy Duff, trainer Pat Duff and Dr Stella Miller

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Fashions Of The Field

Women’s winner … Verelle O’Shanesy, Kingaroy

*** * ***

Hard Landing, with Paul Hamblin aboard, romps away to easily win Race 5, the Wondai Diggers Cup

Race Results

Race 1 – Smithfield Feedlot Burnett To The Beach BenchMark 55 Handicap (1100m)
1. Jamesatelli (3) – Dale Smith
2. Oakfield Commanche (2) – Hannah Phillips
3. Yes No Maybe So (10) – Shania Willis
Time: 1:05.29
Margins: Head x short head

Race 2 – Raffin Electrical QTIS Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. So Odelia (10) – Brooke Johnson
2. Mussel Lines (4) – Sariah Champkin
3. Buckleys (9) – Alisha Donald
Time: No time taken
Margins: 1 1/4 lengths x 1 length

Race 3 – Argus Builders QTIS Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Boss Bandit (4) – Amy Graham
2. Platinum Rose (6) – Landan Sykes
3. Dolly Disco (9) – Shannon Apthorpe
Time: 1:04.57
Margins: 3 1/4 lengths x long head

Race 4 – Wondai Diggers Club Cup Open Plate (1000m)
1. Hard Landing (4) – Paul Hamblin
2. Diggity (11e) – Leeanne McCoy
3. Mr Brose (9) – Hannah Richardson
Time: No time taken
Margins: 2 lengths x neck

Race 5 – The Norm Andresen Memorial Class B Handicap (850m)
1. TakeMeOutback (1) – Lilli Barr
2. Jain (9) – Kelly Gates
3. Ultra Instinct (10) – Hannah Phillips
Time: 0:49.93
Margins: Long head x 3 1/2 lengths

Race 6 – Wondai Peries IGA & Wondai H Hardware BenchMark 55 Handicap (1577m)
1. Battle (4) – Adam Sewell
2. Take The Lead (3) – Nicole Vuille
3. Champion Parade (6) – Kelly Gates
Time: 1:38.25
Margins: Long neck x neck