Alyssa Hetherington, Wondai; Renee Kratzmann, Kingaroy; and Sophie Gleich, Wondai; were enjoying a day at the races
November 7, 2023
The chaos, colour and excitement of Melbourne Cup Day in Flemington was replicated in full at Kumbia Races on Tuesday.
There were fancy fashions – all in pink as a salute to the South Burnett’s Pink Up campaign to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation – a hectic betting ring, packed bar and on-track excitement with some close finishes, including a dead-heat for third in Race 2.
The Fashions of the Field competitions were equally competitive, with ladies, gents and couples keeping judges Cr Kathy Duff, CROW-FM’s Chantal Harth and former MP for Callide Di McCauley working hard to select the best dressed.
The new team heading the Kumbia Race Club would have breathed a sigh of relief when the weather turned out perfect for racing.
There was no sign of the rain which washed out the 2022 event, but everyone at the track was also eyeing the dark clouds above, hoping there could be some rain falling after the last race …
Out on the track, the winner of the $14,000 Kumbia Cup was Chinchilla-based five-year-old gelding Villaden, ridden by apprentice Tamara Noble and owned and trained by Rodney Hay.
Sadly for punters, favourite Real Key was eight lengths back in fourth place.
McGrath Foundation nurse Sue Cox and her husband Phillip … money was being raised on the day to assist the FoundationCr Kathy Duff and her nephew Mortimer Duff … Kathy was having a busy day at Kumbia as she was not only involved in the Fashions judging but was also officially launching her campaign to run for South Burnett Mayor in 2024Another Mayoral candidate for 2024, Cr Kirstie Schumacher, with Amy Smoothy, from GlencliffeActing South Burnett Mayor Gavin Jones with Bruce Webb, Nanango; John Allery, Kingaroy; and Warren Watkin, MaidenwellIsabel Bredhauer, from Bell, with Evie Waterworth, from CoolumRosie Schmidt, from Kingaroy, with former colleague Simon Neal, also from KingaroyMum and daughter Jannine Smith and Peta May, from KumbiaTrudie Payne, from Eidsvold; Alex Slack, Coulstoun Lakes and Kim Kirk, GayndahHenny De Winter, from Kingaroy, was photobombing with Rebecca Pohle, GayndahCr Scott Henschen with Cedric Duff (brother of trainer Patrick Duff) and representatives from Race 2 sponsors (Raine & Horne Kingaroy & Deb Frecklington MP) Jackie, John and Callum Allery with winning jockey Micheal McDonaldCr Henschen, who acted as compere at the post-race presentations, with Kate Kropp, part-owner of Race 3 winner LaurieRace 4 was run in memory of members of four well-known Kumbia families (Lenihan, Smoothy, McConville & Reed) … at the post-race presentation were Cr Henschen, jockey Colleen Krahnen, John Byrne (representing the owners of Patrick’s Me Mate), Marlene Charlton, Russell Reed and Kevin and Amy SmoothySharon Reynolds, right, from race sponsors Huston Motors, presented the Kumbia Cup and rug to owner / trainer Rodney Hay and jockey Tamara Noble after the running of Race 5The betting ring was packed with punters supporting both the local and interstate races
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Fashions Of The Field
A stylish line-up of ladies fronts the judges in the “Best Headwear” competition
The Fashions of the Field competitions are always a huge part of race day at Kumbia, but this year they were a little bit different.
The competitions were a fundraiser for local McGrath Foundation breast cancer nurse Sue Cox, but there were also new names and a new category.
Judges had a tough time separating the winners, so tough, in fact, that the various categories had to be squeezed in between Race 3, Race 4 and Race 5!
And the winners were:
Most Stylish Goddess (Over 50): Maureen Culey, Brisbane (1st); Jo Hassan, South Nanango (2nd); and Susan Stephens, Atherton (3rd)Most Stylish Goddess (Under 50): Jess Randall, Gayndah (1st); Jessica Beddows, Murgon (2nd); Felicity Reinke, Cushnie (3rd); and …… in fourth place, Bobbi Murrell and Tessa, 2, from GoomeriBest Dressed Gent: Rod Morgan, Nanango (3rd); Riley Cavanough, Kumbia (1st); and Toby Schmidt, Kingaroy (2nd)Best Headwear: Jess Randall, Gayndah (4th); Beck Pohle, Gayndah (3rd); Amelia Dalton, Cushnie (2nd) and Amy Smoothy, Glencliffe (1st)Most Stylish Couple were newlyweds Matthew and Shennae Barbour, from Kumbia, who only tied the knot last month … other placegetters: Rod & Clare Waterworth, Coolum (2nd); Rod & Jenny Morgan, Nanango (3rd); and Michael & his guide dog “Rasta”, Chapel Hill (4th)
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Race Results
The pack hits the line in Race 2 with the top-weight Shades Of Louvre (Micheal McDonald) on the rail, edging out Bright Flames in a tight finish for the minor places
Race 2 – Raine & Horne Kingaroy Deb Frecklington MP QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Shades Of Louvre (1) – Micheal McDonald
2. Bright Flames (4) – Rhiannon Payne
3. Pride An’ Joy (6) – Shania Willis (dead heat)
3. Alberta The Fox (3) – Lilli Barr (dead heat)
Time: 1:10.16
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x half length
Race 3 – Liberty Fuel Benchmark 60 Handicap (1200m)
1. Laurie (2) – Paul Hamblin
2. The Orphan (6) – Shania Willis
3. Kefalonia (4) – Micheal McDonald
Time: 1:13.25
Margins: 2 lengths x long neck
Race 4 – Memorial – Families Of Lenihan, Smoothy, McConville & Reeds Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap (1400m)
1. Patrick’s Me Mate (6) – Colleen Krahnen
2. Muwarrad (3) – Micheal McDonald
3. Feudalist (5) – Tamara Noble
Time: 1:27.40
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x short neck
Race 5 – Huston Motors Kumbia Cup Open Handicap (1400m)
1. Villaden (5) – Tamara Noble
2. Sir Piccolo (7) – Shania Willis
3. Coynes Road (3) – Paul Hamblin
Time: 1:25.39
Margins: 3 3/4 lengths x 1 1/2 lengths
Villaden, with jockey Tamara Noble aboard, romps away to win Race 5, the Kumbia CupAnd this is what it was all about … Kumbia’s equivalent of the Melbourne Cup!
Awesome to see Micheal McDonald back in the saddle and riding to glory days ahead.