Black & White Bonanza

Classic black and white … Karlie Zemek and Shae Cull, from Kingaroy; Shae was later sashed as the Best Dressed Lady

July 2, 2023

The success of Wondai’s annual winter racing meeting on Saturday could be seen in black and white … literally.

Classic Black & White was the fashion theme, and it seemed almost everyone in the crowd obeyed the South Burnett Race Club’s colour command.

And any punter who followed the black and white tip in last week’s Gunsynd’s Gossip column would also be smiling as Ultra Instinct scored an easy win in Race 3.

Jockey Leeanne McCoy’s silks were … black and white!

However, despite all this, the day really belonged to the Duff family, with four of the five races on the card held in memory of various members of the racing family.

Local councillor Kathy Duff also marshalled the hotly contested Fashions of the Field competition.

Out on the track, it was Ladies Day with female jockeys bringing home every winner.

Sadly, one familiar female face was missing from the jockey’s room; hoop Nicole Vuille is recovering after being injured in a fall during a training accident at Kumbia on June 28.

Keeley Schloss, Phoebe Day and Paige Connelly, all from Kingaroy, with Eliza Thompson, Wondai

Bella McBride and Chloe Haley, Kingaroy; Kiana Williams, Wondai; and Gemma Treloar, Toowoomba

Dan Cross, Tim Freeman and Deb Dennien, all from Kingaroy, were enjoying a day at the races

Aleisha Roberts, from Gympie, with Harriet, 1

Andrew and Gaye Hobbs, from Wondai, were taking a break from End Of Financial Year worries

South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto, left, and Cr Kathy Duff, right, with Member for Flynn Colin Boyce, centre, and the entrants in the Best Dressed Lady fashion competition (Photo: Kathy Duff)

Member for Flynn Colin Boyce with Cr Jane Erkens … Mr Boyce visited the races as part of a string of activities over the weekend in Wondai and Proston

Jockey Leeanne McCoy with owners Bob and Dorothy Black after Ultra Instinct took out Race 3 (Photo: Ross Stanley)

South Burnett Race Club president Jeff Wenck and Cedric Duff after the running of Race 2, the Lewis Duff Memorial Open Handicap

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Race Results

Favourite Oakfield Comanche romps home with jockey Hannah Phillips in Race 2 …this was the chestnut’s fourth win from six starts at Wondai, all with Phillips aboard; the other two starts were placings

Race Results

Race 1 – Peries IGA Wondai Class B Handicap (1100m)
1. Scruff ‘N’ Stuff (5) – Shania Willis
2. Lady Wairua (1) – Landan Sykes
3. Rasheed (4) – Kelly Gates
Time: 1:05.90
Margins: Short head x 2 lengths

Race 2 – Lewis Duff Memorial Open Handicap (1100m)
1. Oakfield Comanche (2) – Hannah Phillips
2. Gossiaux (4) – Shania Willis
3. Beeokay (3) – Gemma Steele
Time: 1:04.85
Margins: 1 1/4 lengths x 1/2 length

Race 3 – Kevin Duff Memorial Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap (1000m)
1. Ultra Instinct (5) – Leeanne McCoy
2. True Tally (8) – Morgan Butler
3. Dante Alighieri (7) – Emily Pomfret
Time: 0:59.41
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x 1/2 head

Race 4 – Stephanie Duff Memorial QTIS Maiden Plate (850m)
1. Mussel Lines (2) – Shania Willis
2. Zesty Boy (4) – Kelly Gates
3. The Devastator (6) – Rob Thorburn
Time: 0:51.33
Margins: Half neck x 2 lengths

Race 5 – Neal Duff Memorial BenchMark 55 Handicap (1577m)
1. Blavatsky (3) – Leeanne McCoy
2. Battle (5) – Morgan Butler
3. Casino Cat (4) – Rob Thorburn
Time: 1:38.68
Margins: 1/4 length x 9 3/4 lengths