Wondai Racing's In The Pink - southburnett.com.au

Enjoying a day at the races were Ciara and Clarissa Tanner, Kingaroy; Sarah Crowhurst, Kingaroy; Mel McAleer, Sunshine Coast; Jodie Miller, Nanango; Courtney Ashton, Kingaroy; and Mackenzie Ashton, Sunshine Coast

October 24, 2024

Wondai’s biggest race meeting of the year – coinciding with racing’s richest turf race, The Everest, at Randwick – attracted a keen crowd of punters on Saturday.

But not everyone was there to lay a bet, as the swathes of pink around the course attested.

As always, the Fashions of the Fields competitions – compered by Mayor Kathy Duff – were also keenly contested.

There were fears ahead of the meeting that the afternoon storms which have been hitting the South Burnett recently could cause some problems.

And, right on cue, the rain started to fall just as the field hit the line at the end of Race 3.

The two quick showers caused some delays for the fashions competitions but the racing itself was not affected.

On the track, it was a big day for apprentices who won all five events and, in fact, took out 13 top three places.

Apprentices rode the trifecta in main race of the day, the Roy and Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup.

Another important race was Race 4, the Monica Ryan & Kathleen Hoult Memorial, named in memory of two members of Wondai’s Ryan family.

Monica, who died of cancer in 2020, was part of an historic meeting in Wondai in 1990 when female jockeys rode the card, with Monica taking out four out of the seven races.

Kathleen Hoult, who died two years ago, was another much-loved member of the Ryan family and a stalwart of the Wondai Wolves rugby league club.

South Burnett Race Club president Jeff Wenck with Roy and Glenis Radunz who presented the Wondai Cup to successful trainer Trevor Thomas and jockey Leah Martyn (Photo: Three Way Photos)

Robby Wilson, Tenterfield; Anne Crouch, Brisbane; Liz Livingstone, Wondai; Mandy Ades, Hawthorne; and Annie Jones, Tenterfield … the group were all nurses together for 45 years at St Andrew’s Hospital in Brisbane

Denis Stark and Colin Ades, from Brisbane; Chris Jones, Tenterfield; and Alan McPhee, Wondai

Race 4 was held in memory of Ryan family members, former jockey Monica Ryan and Kathleen Hoult … Monica’s daughter Layla Demircan, from Gympie, with the Monica Ryan Perpetual Trophy, and Monica’s best friend and former jockey Marita Wood, also from Gympie

Storm clouds started to gather overhead as the crowd headed towards the fence for the start of Race 3

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Fashions Of The Field

And even more pink … entrants in the Girls Fashions of the Field competition

South Burnett Race Club patron Roy Radunz sashed Allegra Neave, 10, Kingaroy, winner of the Girls Fashions of the Field competition

Boys Fashions of the Field winner Will Bonney 4, from Maroochydore, with the packets of lollies he received as a prize

Ben Saunders, from Maroochydore, on the catwalk in the Men’s Fashions of the Field competition

Men’s Fashions of the Field winner BJ Schwerin, from Dalby, was sashed by Roy Radunz

Men’s Fashions of the Field competition entrants … David Thomson, Ben Saunders, Zac Dennien and BJ Schwerin

Best Dressed Couple in the Fashions of the Field competition were Kingaroy State High School principal David Thomson and his wife Janet

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Race Results

Equal favourite War Too All, with Leah Martyn on board, takes out the Wondai Cup (Photo: Three Way Photos)

Race 1 – Raffin Electrical Burnett To The Beach Series – Heat – Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m)
1. Ablett (3) – Perrie Carter
2. Opaquely (5) – Ty Wheeler
3. My One (4) – Chris Meehan
Time: 0:58.81
Margins: 2 1/2 lengths x 3 lengths

Race 2 – Seiler Earthmoving BM60 Handicap (850m)
1. Jain (6) – Ty Wheeler
2. Amphawa (3) – Chris Meehan
3. Holiday Dreams (1) – Perrie Carter
Time: 0:48.88
Margins: Neck x 7 lengths

Race 3 – Tarong Power Stations & Meandu Mine QTIS Maiden Plate (850m)
1. Braidwood Queen (4) – Perrie Carter
2. Absalon Tulip (3) – Leah Martyn
3. Queen Nina (7) – Hannah Phillips
Time: 0:50.50
Margins: Neck x short neck

Race 4 – The Monica Ryan & Kathleen Hoult Memorial Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap (1577m)
1. The Wellian (1) – Leah Martyn
2. Lonergy (7) – Perrie Carter
3. He’s Viral (3) – Brodie Moffat
Time: 1:37.55
Margins: 4 3/4 lengths x 1/4 length

Race 5 – The Roy and Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup (1577m)
1. War Too All (4) – Leah Martyn
2. Master Drumer (5) – Perrie Carter
3. Momack (1) – Nora Palasthy
Time: 1:36.52
Margins: 1 length x 3 3/4 lengths