September 9, 2024
Racegoers at Nanango’s annual Spring race meeting were greeted with perfect weather on Saturday at the Lee Park racetrack.
The fashion theme was “Garden Party Glam” with entrants competing for bottles of wine from Moffatdale Ridge.
South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and Jenny Morgan marshalled the fields in the men’s, women’s and children’s competitions.
While the crowd was enjoying the weather and trackside fun, two apprentice jockeys were having a tougher time.
Zac Sprie was thrown at the start of Race 1 when his mount, Princess Lutetia, blundered on jumping.
QAS paramedics rushed to assist Sprie, who was stood down from any further involvement in the meeting.
Princess Lutetia suffered some minor scratches but was otherwise uninjured.
Then ahead of Race 3, apprentice Ty Wheeler was dislodged from his saddle twice by Toy Blaze in the mounting yard.
Toy Blaze was uninjured but declared a late scratching.
Fortunately, Wheeler was also unhurt and brought home last-race winner Pheeble’s Spirit.
Former NSW jockey Claire Ramsbotham also had a mixed day, with one winner and three placings … but also picked up a reprimand from the stewards for alleged careless riding in Race 4.
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Race Results
Race 1 – Thank You Kerry Mercer Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Boitumelo (3) – Claire Ramsbotham
2. French Wish (12) – Maddie Mankelow
3. Bright Flames (4) – Tom Orr
Time: 0:58.53
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x 1 1/2 lengths
Race 2 – Baileys Earthmoving QTIS Class 3 Plate (1000m)
1. Hill Billy Flyer (1) – Paul Hamblin
2. Miss De Blaas (4) – Ty Wheeler
3. Les Girls (3) – Chris Meehan
Time: 0:56.95
Margins: 1 length x 1 3/4 lengths
Race 3 – Engineering Benchmark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. War Too All (10) – Nathan Thomas
2. Black ‘N’ Deadly (7) – Todd Banks
3. I’m Famous (4) – Claire Ramsbotham
Time: 1:09.61
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x 2 3/4 lengths
Race 4 – Leon ‘Panda’ Green Memorial Open Handicap (1200m)
1. Smiling Zac (2) – Maddie Mankelow
2. Bean Rocking (3) – Erin Molloy
3. Grand De Lago (1) – Claire Ramsbotham
Time: 1:08.36
Margins: 2 3/4 lengths x 6 lengths
Race 5 – Heritage Bank Nanango Benchmark 55 Handicap (1600m)
1. Pheeble’s Spirit (3) – Ty Wheeler
2. Magic Of Millo (7) – Claire Ramsbotham
3. Anthropica (10) – Nathan Thomas
Time: 1:35.66
Margins: Length x nose
