May 3, 2024
Kinship was to the fore when Jain and her regular jockey Kelly Gates prevailed at home at Wondai on Anzac Day.
The Sammy Sequalo mare had a very local cheer squad. Val Ryan was the radiant and proud matriarch. Her late husband Colin was a highly respected, long-time starter at Wondai and other South Burnett venues.
Val’s daughters Leanne Ryan and Narelle and her husband Jeff Wenck were three of the nine part-owners of the sprinter that is yet to miss a place at Wondai.
The Wencks’ daughters Kristen Roon and Lauren O’Neill are also in the happy syndicate as are their respective husbands Bodie and Harley.
Jeff’s sister Paula and her husband Michael Hedges round out the list of nine bill-payers. The youngest pair of barrackers were Kristen and Bodie’s children Ryan and Paityn.
To add more to the tale, Jeff Wenck is the South Burnett Race Club’s president and Lauren is the secretary.
Kristen, Jain’s trainer and track rider, did a great job ensuring that the Drumbeats four-year-old was fit enough to run out a strong metric five furlongs in the Norm Andresen Memorial.
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Meanwhile, apprentice Brooke Johnson made her southern sortie worthwhile on Holiday Dreams in the Ken Mills Machinery Burnett To The Beach 0-60 Handicap.
The talented showjumper, who is indentured to Clinton Taylor, left her Rockhampton base around breakfast time.
Successful owner-trainer Rodney Hay gave Johnson, 21, the opportunity to ride his Wondai runners as a reward for her efforts aboard his Taylor-trained horses.
In the middle of last year, Brooke booted home six successive winners, courtesy of trebles at Bundaberg and Yeppoon. She has outridden her country claim and is a promising provincial hoop, with recent wins at Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville.
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The South Burnett Race Club’s Anzac Day crowd was huge and well-behaved with the marquees selling out early in March.
The July 6 meeting is the Duff Memorial race day.
All events are being sponsored by family members Kathy Duff and Cedric Duff … and Kathy is, of course, the new South Burnett Regional Council Mayor.
A novel offering by the race club is free admission to all patrons that travel by a commercial charter bus.
There is plenty of time for out-of-towners to organise the necessary large party.
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Burrandowan Reminders For May 11
Burrandowan’s website and Facebook page really cover the bases for the day that John Williamson’s Home Among The Gum Trees could well be the theme music.
Sheep and kangaroos are not wanted but city slickers certainly will absorb the bush ambience.
A standout point is that there is no ATM and no reliable mobile service.
The online information deals with Frequently Asked Questions: ticketing, transport and travel directions, camping, pit-fired night barbecus, pre-booked food options, the table “bling’ competition, fashion contests, accommodation in the district and merchandise (which includes the ultra-comprehensive “100 Years of Racing at Burrandowan” book that was meticulously put together by Judith Grimes OAM).
First-timers and stalwarts should also check out John Dalton’s superbly composed and expertly executed cavalcade of 2023 photographs.
On the racing front, the program is outstanding.
The agenda includes a $14,000 Battle of the Bush heat, with the winner assured of a berth in the $200,000 Final at Eagle Farm on June 29; the $20,000 Burnett to Beach Final and the Maiden Plate that is boosted by QTIS bonuses. The club also pays a $100 travel rebate for each starter that does not earn prize money.
It is time to get busy!
