Classic Cup Day At Nanango

South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff with the young entrants in the Boys Fashions of the Field competition … everyone received a prize (Photo: Jane Erkens)

August 8, 2024

The annual Nanango Cup race meeting, a highlight of the South Burnett racing calendar, was held on Saturday at Nanango’s Lee Park Racecourse.

The event – the first of the South Burnett’s racing year – attracted a sizable crowd of punters, horse owners, trainers and jockeys eager to begin a new season of racing.

In the main race of the day, the $15,000 Nanango Cup, favourite Scottish Prince took off to lead the field in the early and middle stages before fading to finish last, four lengths behind the eventual winner, nine-year-old gelding Sokudo.

Race Club president Andrew Green said he was pleased with size of the crowd, although it wasn’t as big as last year’s meeting.

However, he was less pleased with the antics of one of the racegoers, who rammed down the front gate of the racetrack with their vehicle at some time on Saturday night.

The vehicle had been left in the car park after the races, so officials left the gate closed but unlocked to allow the driver to retrieve their vehicle.

However, the racegoer – apparently not realising the gate was unlocked – climbed the fence and then rammed the gates open with their vehicle to get out.

Andrew said the gate could not be repaired and would have to be replaced.

The incident has been reported to police.

It was also not a great day for jockey Hannah Richardson, who copped a 10-day suspension from the stewards for careless riding after her mount, Emerald’s Son, shifted in during Race 3 causing another runner to clip its heels and blunder.

How Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green found the front gate when he returned to the racetrack on Sunday morning (Photo: NRC)

Nanango Cup winner Sokudo with part-owner Kumal Ramassari (Photo: Jane Erkens)

Cup sponsor Di Grant, from Nanango’s Commercial Hotel, with winning jockey Perrie Carter (Photo: Jane Erkens)

Mayor Kathy Duff marshalled the Fashions of the Field competition … she’s pictured with the entrants in the women’s competition (Photo: Jane Erkens)

Sue and Kevin Hunt with Richard Ogden and Anne Mason (Photo: Jane Erkens)

Gloria Kirkness, Nanango, and Larraine Barlow, from Brisbane, enjoy catching up at the races
(Photo: Jane Erkens)

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Race Results

Jockey Perrie Carter brings Sokudo back into the mounting yard after their Nanango Cup victory (Photo: Jane Erkens)

Race 1 – Col Ryan Memorial Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m)
1. Sea Commits (5) – Montanna Savva
2. Jain (10) – Ty Wheeler
3. Paper Cowboy (4) – Leah Martyn
Time: 0:57.70
Margins: 3/4 length x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 2 – Star Tyrepower Kingaroy QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Titivate (10) – Dale Smith
2. Plus Sixty One (5) – Leah Martyn
3. Boysarebackintown (12) – Wayne O’Connell
Time: 1:12.33
Margins: 1/4 length x nose

Race 3 – Nanango Real Estate BenchMark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. All About Lewis (4) – Tamara Noble
2. Mussel Lines (11) – Dale Smith
3. Giddy Up Gidleigh (1) – Perrie Carter
Time: 1:10.80
Margins: 1 1/4 lengths x neck

Race 4 – Gibbarnee Livestock BenchMark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. Richunclemoneybags (5) – Hannah Phillips
2. Miss Helmut (10) – Montanna Savva
3. Contessa Nile (8) – Maddie Mankelow
Time: 1:10.28
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x 1/4 length

Race 5 – National Jockeys Celebration/J.A.Lee Memorial BenchMark 65 Handicap (1200m)
1. Prince Of Diamonds (8) – Ty Wheeler
2. Diggity (4) – Paul Hamblin
3. Kirella Shores (9) – Damien Boutet
Time: 1:09.41
Margins: Length x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 6 – Commercial Hotel Nanango Cup Open Handicap (1600m)
1. Sokudo (5) – Perrie Carter
2. End Of Month (7) – Leah Martyn
3. Winston Blue (9) – Chris Meehan
Time: 1:35.75
Margins: Length x 1/4 length

Race 7 – Heritage Bank Nanango Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap (1600m)
1. Sense Of Humour (3) – Maddie Mankelow
2. Alert And Ready (8) – Ty Wheeler
3. Ginasue (7) – Perrie Carter
Time: 1:36.06
Margins: 1 1/4 lengths x 2 lengths