April 24, 2025
Fields for Friday’s traditionally popular South Burnett Race Club fixture will be close to full capacity with the limit being 10 runners per race.
The best tip for newcomers is that the track has a sand surface.
A starting point for rookie punters is to take notice of gallopers which have already performed well on the circuit.
The fact that Bundaberg, Gympie, Gladstone and Roma are also non-turf courses should be kept in mind.
Some gallopers like these conditions. Others don’t appreciate the kick back from rivals ahead of them in running.
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Jain has an impressive record on her home patch with four appearances for two wins, a second and a third.
Kristen Roon’s charge lines up in the Ken Mills Machinery Kingaroy Benchmark 55 over 850 metres. The five-year-old daughter of Drumbeats loves the short sprint trips, her jockey Kelly Gates knows her well and she drew gate seven when she scored here at the October 2024 meeting.
Jain is a fighter. The margins for her two Wondai defeats were a head and a long neck. The hurdle could be her 62.5 kilogram impost, a weight that she has never carried before.
Takemeoutback hails from Charlie Henry’s Dalby stables. The veteran Outback Prince gelding, with a 5:2-1-0 scorecard at Wondai, will be partnered by Hannah Phillips in the Parker’s Plumbing and Gasfit Benchmark 50 (1000m), the opener at 1:30 pm.
Others on the day with credentials are Igbo with its 4:1-1-1 record on home ground. The bay by Equiano (Fr), trained by part-owner Bob Black, is first up after a long spell.
Ablett, owned and trained at Chinchilla by Rodney Hay, makes a strong appeal in the Wondai Diggers’ Club Cup.
This up-and-coming type, particularly over 1000 metres, prevailed easily at his only Wondai attempt. The in-form apprentice Chloe Lowe will be aboard.
Chloe is currently a clear leader in the Queensland Country Jockey Premiership with 223 rides since August 1 last year for a 47-33-24 return. Her mounts have banked $582,000 in prize money.
Other candidates with a Wondai victory on their resume are The Storm, The Devastator and Braidwood Queen.
Summer Star is proven over the 1577 metre journey of the last race, the Deb Frecklington MP Benchmark 50.
Seeyoulater and Absalon Tulip have been placed.
Another pointer is to check the race book for aspirants trained at Wondai.
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The Balanced Rider Numbers
When it comes to the jockeys plying their trade at Wondai, the split between senior riders and claiming apprentices is close to even, with totals of 26 and 24 respectively.
It is a similar situation at Cunnamulla and the District Diggers’ Race Club’s Friday meeting with its 22:20 count.
Most of these hoops register countless hours travelling far and wide. It is great for their sake that Wondai attracted 54 acceptors and Cunnamulla’s tally was 43.
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Reminders
- There are NO ATMs on course. You need to bring cash.
- Poppies and Pearls is the Fashion contest theme.
- The Norm Andresen Memorial QTIS Maiden Plate honours Wondai’s long-time clerk of the scales. He was involved in other community equine endeavours, loved a chat and is sorely missed.
- There is a spate of meetings coming up: Jandowae (May 3), Burrandowan (May 10) and Nanango (May 17).
- Don’t miss Wondai. There is something extra-Australian about going to live racing on Anzac Day.
- Do visit the Jericho Cup website: “Approaching the end of the First World War, the Australian Light Horse were planning a major offensive against the Turkish Empire. In order to lull the enemy into believing that nothing unusual was a foot, a race meeting was organised on the evening of the assault. The main race was called The Jericho Cup over three miles through the desert sands. The winner was Bill The Bastard, probably Australia’s greatest war horse.”
