May 30, 2025
UPDATE: The Wondai Race Meeting on May 31 has been abandoned due to the weather.
The third meeting inside a month is on offer to South Burnett racegoers at Wondai on Saturday.
The Duff Memorial Race Dday has been switched from July to May. While this occasion is tinged with sadness, it is an opportunity to express pride and gratitude.
Races are named in honour of Lewis (the patriarch, who was extremely active in the Wondai Jockey Club around a century ago), Stephanie, Neal, Kevin and, a new addition, in Patrick.
Importantly Patrick’s twin brother Cedric and Kathy Duff, the first female Mayor of the South Burnett Regional Council, continue to make their energetic contribution to racing at Wondai and the wider district. Their enthusiasm is a tribute to their kinfolk.
Conversations trackside at the South Burnett Race Club program will no doubt recall some of Pat Duff’s innumerable feats.
Lady O’Stars, whose win at Wondai opened Pat’s account as a local trainer, Gael Bay (raced by Joe Ryan and Elizabeth Duff) and Pae Wood provided early thrills.
The grand gallopers he put the polish on included Our Cavalier, Handsome Prince, El Akbar, Bay Legend, Star of Florida, Hard Case, Scomeld (briefly), Hard To Catch, Heart Of The Citi, Power Arrow, Prince of Rory and Lord Medes.
Duff’s stable took out various premierships. Cedric was often his right hand man.
Also notable was his great run with apprentices such as Michael Pelling, Jim Byrne, Mandy Radecker and, briefly, Mick Dittman. Also, there was an almost endless string of battling rookies that Duff took under his wing.
The most bitter episode is a standout. In a Bundamba Sixth Division Handicap back in the day, his hopeful Papilloma was backed from 66/1 into 14/1. He was beaten a head by Midsummer but that horse returned a positive swab and was disqualified. The upside was that Papilloma, a $200 purchase, won 20 times.
Elizabeth Ryan (Pat and Cedric’s mother) was involved in Iruklam, the chestnut by Ajax’s son Achilles that took out the 1963 BATC Summer Cup, finished second in the 1961 Queensland Derby and run an eye-catching fourth in a Stradbroke Handicap. The Ryan family is another stalwart sector of the Burnett racing fraternity.
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Some Form Pointers
The opener at 1:35pm is very interesting.
With Chloe Lowe serving a suspension following a whip infringement at Chinchilla on May 20, Amie Meissner, the four kilogram claimer from Damien Rideout’s Thangool yard, is the replacement on Rodney Hay’s Ablett.
Meissner has had one race day back after giving away the game during her indenture at Rockhampton. Rideout’s wife was the driving force of encouragement that led to the comeback.
Joel Weeks, a close friend of Amie, died in a car accident at Biloela last year. She dedicated her recent return to racing silk at Gladstone to him. The initials JW were stitched into her jodhpurs.
There is reason to believe that Joel was the wind beneath her wings because she booted home a double, including Native Bee for her master. Ablett has a two for two at Wondai.
Gympie galloper Paper Cowboy also took the eye with a comfortable victory at the venue on Anzac Day.
Braidwood Queen, to be handled by her regular partner Perrie Carter, has a track form line of 3:1-1-0.
The other runners are starting at Wondai for the first time.
Meissner, who will also be aboard The Rattlesnake and Cindy Rocks, rides at Kilcoy on Sunday and her hometown fixture on Monday.
Across the three days, she has bookings for five horses owned by Hay.
Local interest in the second event centres around the duo prepared by Bob Black: Igbo and Ultra Distinct. Both candidates are very adept on their home patch.
The middle contest on the card is an absolute lottery. The lightly raced Stell’s Angel has not appeared after failing at Gympie on June 15 last year.
Although she would not be expected to win, her breeder Peter Thornton and trainer Glenn Richardson have had a lot of fun with the progeny of her dam Miss Bam.
Arnwood, Sherwood Prince and Princess Marian were all by Better Than Ready. Stell’s Angel is a daughter of Rothesay.
With Hannah Richardson in Goondiwindi to ride Sea Commits for Wondai horseman Neville O’Toole, Adam Sewell will have the reins on Stell’s Angel. She will also ply her trade at the upcoming meetings at Kilcoy and Thangool. At the latter venue, she is listed for Stell’s Angel.
The fourth event is the last with acceptors that have raced well on Wondai’s sand circuit.
Summer Star will certainly be well supported.The gelding by Going Fine has twice been successful from three attempts at the course and distance. His jockey Adam Spinks has had plenty of experience at the course.
Rivals Dolly Disco, Whistlin’ Ruler and Kasear have all been placed at their only outing at Wondai.
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Bits & Bridles
- Jain, the local star, is skipping her home fixture. She will take on the Benchmark 60 over 800 metres at Kilcoy. She has drawn a centre gate and her mate Kelly Gates will be in the saddle.
- On May 17, Nanango joined Wondai in the Super Seven Sweep Club. In March 1990, the South Burnett Race Club was the first to host a card that was dominated by female riders. It was a case of seven from seven with Monica Ryan contributing a quadrella. For the record, the Nanango achievement was put together by three apprentices. Chloe Lowe chalked up a treble, Kayla Johnston landed a double and it was one apiece to Courtney Ferris and Perrie Carter.
Good luck trackside on Saturday!
