Mayors Back A Winner At Wondai

Celebrating success at the Anzac Day Races … former South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto, his father Trevor, current South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and Brett’s son Nick with the Diggers Club Cup which their horse, Hard Landing, won for the second year straight at Wondai on Saturday

April 26, 2024

Wondai’s Anzac Day races are always popular, but this year’s event attracted one of the biggest crowds seen at a local racetrack for years.

There were keen contests both on the track and in the Fashions of the Field competitions with popular local winners taking home glory in both.

Hard Landing, the six-year-old gelding owned by South Burnett mayor Kathy Duff, former mayor Brett Otto and members of their families, took out the main race of the day, the Diggers Club Cup.

Hard Landing secured victory in the same race 12 months ago.

The Durong connections of Race 2 winner, The Devastator, couldn’t contain their excitement when the eight-year-old mare claimed its first victory in 15 starts.

And to top off the local success, Race 4 was won by Jain, owned by a local syndicate including South Burnett race club president Jeff Wenck.

Fashions of the Field included a popular win to Wondai resident Josh Retschlag, and to Murgon’s Eileen Wruck, sister of Diggers Club Cup part-owner Trevor Otto.

Unfortunately, the meeting was marred by an incident at the end of Race 1.

There was concerns on track for jockey Hannah Phillips when fifth placegetter Takemeoutback stumbled and fell while pulling up after the race.

Phillips was dislodged from the saddle, with the horse appearing to land on her.

She was helped on-course by QAS paramedics before being taken by ambulance to Kingaroy Hospital for further treatment.

A QAS spokesperson said later the jockey was transported in a stable condition suffering neck pain.

Stewards reported that a post-race veterinary check of Takemeoutback identified the gelding to be lame in the off foreleg, and it will require vet clearance prior to racing again.

Not long after the ambulance returned to the track, it was required again to assist a race patron who fainted and was taken to hospital for observation.

The two incidents caused long delays between races but also provided an opportunity for the Fashions competitions to take centre stage.

Keeley Schloss, Montana Preston, Renee Kratzmann and Addisen Hawks, all from Kingaroy, were enjoying a day at the races

Anzac Day at the races … Marg and Gordon Oliver, from Ballogie

John Lloyd and Wendy Henry travelled from Dalby for a day at the races

Olivia Carstairs, from Kingaroy; Brit Hannessen, from Wooroolin; and Amity Campbell, from Kingaroy

Patsy Phipps, from Wondai, and Terry Leahy, from Ballogie

Renee Schofield, Wondai, with 11-week-old Audrey Brown

Chantal Harth, from CROW-FM, with former colleague Shaz Birkett, now at 2TM, who came back to help judge the Fashions of the Field

Watching the Fashions of the Field competitions were Michele Clark, who travelled up from Caboolture, and Jenny Lewis, from Wondai

One of the biggest crowds seen for years turned out at Wondai Racecourse for the Anzac Day races

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Fashions Of The Field

Mayor Duff and Mrs Frecklington with the Best Dressed Gentleman Josh Retschlag, from Wondai, centre, third placegetter Zac Dennien, from Kingaroy, and second placed Riley Cavanagh, from Kumbia

Best Dressed Ladies runners-up … Maddie Pitstock, Goomeri, (3rd); and Bernie Neave, Kingaroy (2nd)

Deb Frecklington with the Best Dressed Girl, Isabelle Nowland, 5, from Goomeri

Fashions of the Field judges Shaz Birkett, Chantal Harth and Deb Frecklington with the Best Dressed Boy, Kaiden Saban, from Proston

The judges had a tough time picking a winner from the large field of contestants in the Fashions of the Field competitions

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Crystal Woodward and trainer Roy King, from Durong, with The Devastator and jockey Rhiannon Payne after their win in Race 2

The connections of Hard Landing with jockey Morgan Butler after the running of the Diggers Club Cup

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Race Results

Locally trained The Devastator romps away to win at long odds for Durong trainer Roy King in Race 2

Race 1 – Ken Mills Machinery Burnett To The Beach Series Heat Ratings Band 0-60 Handicap (1100m)
1. Holiday Dreams (1) – Brooke Johnson
2. Lipstick Lies (12e) – Rhiannon Payne
3. Barclay’s Bank (2) – Morgan Butler
Time: 1:05.16
Margins: 3 1/2 lengths x 2 1/4 lengths

Race 2 – C & M Machining QTIS Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. The Devastator (9) – Rhiannon Payne
2. Seeyou Later (4) – Perrie Carter
3. The Bigbang Theory (3) – Alisha Donald
Time: 1:00.32
Margins: Length x 2 1/2 lengths

Race 3 – Wondai Diggers Club Cup Open Handicap (1000m)
1. Hard Landing (3) – Morgan Butler
2. Coat Of Arms (1) – Tom Orr
3. Diggity (4) – Jade Metcalfe
Time: 0:58.81
Margins: 1/2 length x 2 1/4 lengths

Race 4 – The Norm Andresen Memorial Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap (1000m)
1. Jain (5) – Kelly Gates
2. Ravera (4) – Morgan Butler
3. Last Laugh (3) – Chloe Lowe
Time: 0:59.72
Margins: 1 1/4 lengths x 2 1/2 lengths

Race 5 – Deb Frecklington MP BenchMark 55 Handicap (1577m)
1. Master Drummer (5) – Chloe Lowe
2. Late Night Devil (4) – Morgan Butler
3. The Brumby (7) – Alisha Donald
Time: 1:36.71
Margins: 5 lengths x 1/2 length