Wondai Backs A Winner

Bernie and Trish Webster, from Moffatdale, were exploring the crowded betting ring

October 27, 2023

Cup Day is always a big one at Wondai … the Wondai Cup, that is, as well as the Caulfield Cup on the screens.

Saturday was no exception with a good crowd turning out at Wondai Racecourse to enjoy the sunny, if somewhat dusty, weather.

There were five races for the punters to enjoy, with all but one being won by long margins.

Jockey Tiffani Brooker would have gone home happy after booting home three winners and a third.

In fact, the only race that Brooker didn’t feature in the placings was the Wondai Cup, in which Vinasta, with Gary Geran aboard, enjoyed an eight-length win.

The victory also earned the mare a berth in the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge which will be raced at Doomben on December 2 during the Summer Racing Carnival.

The next race meeting in the South Burnett will be the Melbourne Cup Day meeting held at “Flemington In The Bush”, ie. Kumbia, on Tuesday, November 7.

This is the Kumbia Race Club’s one and only meeting of the year, and features five races (plus two foot races afterwards with cash prizes).

Tickets can be booked online for $15 (or $20 at the gate).

The dress theme is “Tinkle Me Pink” with fundraising for the McGrath Breast Care nurses.

Kady Hymon, from Memerambi, and Dean Euler, from Kingaroy

Murray Simpson and Marie Taylor travelled from the Gold Coast for the meeting

Jo Brown, from the Sunshine Coast, and Tracie Sager, from Hervey Bay

Verelle O’Shanesy and Lee Seitz, both from Kingaroy, were dressed to impress

Eileen Wruck, from Murgon, and Sylvia Otto, from Rockhampton, were enjoying a day at the races

Lucy and her father Andrew Hobbs with South Burnett Race Club president Jeff Wenck … Hobbs and Associates sponsored Race 3

The Fashions Of The Field judges were kept busy … Myolene Voller, Jane Mason and Gaye Hobbs

Girls Fashions of the Field winner Chloe, 7, centre, with her sister Karly, 9, and parents Chantelle and Brenton List, from Kingaroy

Boys Fashions of the Field winner was Boky Saunders, 5, from Maroochydore

Boky’s mum Lisa Saunders took out the Best Dressed Lady sash … Cr Kathy Duff, centre, compered the competition

Martin Cran, from the Sunshine Coast, was sashed as the Best Dressed Gentleman

Mal Bailey, from Gympie, with a lucky horseshoe that came flying off during Race 4

There was a good crowd enjoying the sunshine at the Wondai Racecourse last Saturday

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Race Results

The closest finish on the day was in Race 2 when the grey, The Storm, just edged out Cash Artist, on the outside, and Jain

Jockey Tiffani Brooker and trainer Glenn Richardson with Viva Americana after Race 3 … the Victorian horse was having its first start in Queensland and bolted in

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Race Results

Race 1 – Peries IGA Wondai BenchMark 60 Handicap (1100m)
1. Best Song (7) – Tiffani Brooker
2. Thetoyboy (3) – Matthew Powell
3. Unassailable (1) – Olivia Kendal
Time: 1:04.19
Margins: 3 1/2 lengths x 1 length

Race 2 – Seiler Earthmoving Class B Handicap (860m)
1. The Storm (4) – Matthew Powell
2. Cash Artist (1) – Shania Willis
3. Jain (6) – Tiffani Brooker
Time: 0:50.18
Margins: 1/2 neck x short neck

Race 3 – Hobbs And Associates Maiden Plate (860m)
1. Viva Americana (9) – Tiffani Brooker
2. Pressure And Time (3) – Kelly Gates
3. Mereenie (7) – Matthew Powell
Time: 0:50.34
Margins: 3 3/4 lengths x 2 1/2 lengths

Race 4 – The Monica Ryan & Kathleen Hoult Memorial QTIS Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap (1577m)
1. Summer Star (6) – Tiffani Brooker
2. Muwarrad (2) – Chris Taylor
3. Battle (5) – Adam Spinks
Time: 1:37.28
Margins: 5 3/4 lengths x 1/2 length

Race 5 – Country Cups Challenge Qualifier/The Roy & Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup Open Handicap (1577m)
1. Vinasta (1) – Gary Geran
2. Springthorpe (8) – Adam Spinks
3. Portnoy (4) – Shania Willis
Time: 1:35.81
Margins: 8 lengths x long head