Clouds Didn't Scare Away Crowds - southburnett.com.au

The weather didn’t deter Ron and Noel Trace, from Brooklands, from attending the Nanango Races

August 11, 2025

There was a buzz at the revived Nanango Races on Saturday, with a good crowd turning up despite the heavy clouds and morning drizzle.

And there was no doubt about which company now has naming rights for the race club, with colourful Sportsbet banners and marquees spread everywhere around the grounds.

The added excitement also extended to the racing with Racing Queensland splitting two races because of the high number of acceptances.

The finishes were also very tight, with the exception of the feature event, the Nanango Cup, where winner Without Revenge scored an easy four-lengths victory (see results, below).

The Fashions of the Field competition – which for the first time in memory had no set theme – was also hotly contested, setting a tough task for judges Dale Olsson and Dellese Heit.

The next event on the South Burnett racing calendar will again be at Nanango, on September 13, coinciding with the start of the Spring racing calendar at Flemington.

Fashions Of The Field judges Dellese Heit, left, and Dale Olsson, right, with the Gentleman and Classic Lady winners
(Photo: Jane Erkens)

Catherine Jurd, from Kingaroy, with Classic Lady runner-up Verelle O’Shanesy, from Jandowae

Jenny and Rod Morgan, from Nanango … Rod was runner-up in the Gentleman category in the Fashions Of The Field competition

Cr Jane Erkens and South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff … the Mayor helped to sash the Fashions of the Field winners

Jess Brookfield and Emily Newman, both from Nanango, were enjoying a day at the races

There was a very good crowd at the races, particularly as the weather wasn’t the best

* * *

New sponsors Sportsbet introduced a new event at the traditional Nanango Cup meeting … a foot race.

Four teams of four runners had to carry small trophies filled with milk in a relay.

The winning team had to return home with their milk levels above a line in the cup … unfortunately no one did!

So the contest reverted to a regular footrace, with the Nanango Stags team eventually coming in victors.

The four teams in the Sportsbet relay race represented local sporting clubs … Blackbutt-Yarraman Timbertowners, Nanango Stags, Wondai Wolves and Barambah Bears

The eventual winners were the team members representing the Nanango Stags rugby league club

The Wondai Wolves’ team carrying one of the cups which were filled with milk … from left, Jeramiah Law, Rocky Taian, Torren Anderton and Jeremy Hobbs

The small cups were filled with milk at the start of the relay race

* * *

The Nanango Race Club’s 2024-25 premierships were also announced at the first meeting of the new racing year:

Jockey Of The Year – apprentice Chloe Lowe
Trainer Of The Year – Toowoomba-based trainer Pat Webster
Horse Of The Year – Richunclemoneybags

It’s been a big year for Chloe Lowe, who also won the Queensland Country Apprentice Premiership and the Queensland Country Jockey Premiership.

* * *

Race Results

Without Revenge, with Wayne O’Connell aboard, romps away for an easy win in the Nanango Cup

Race 1 – Heritage Bank Nanango Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap (800m)
1. Sutherland (4) – Kenji Yoshida
2. King Invincible (1) – Nathan Day
3. Igbo (6) – Isabel Jessop
Time: 0:46.72
Margins: 1 1/2 lengths x 3/4 length

Race 2 – Bellbird Pastoral Co Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap (800m)
1. Levar (1) – Kelly Gates
2. Say When Sutty (8) – James Baker
3. Super Exceptional (10) – Samantha Pointon
Time: 0:46.45
Margins: Head x 1 1/2 lengths

Race 3 – G3 Engineering Open Handicap (1000m)
1. Flying Rupert (8) – Samantha Pointon
2. On Hold (1) – Kayla Barker
3. Corkscrew (7) – Ty Wheeler
Time: 0:59.82
Margins: Long neck x head

Race 4 – The Peterson Family QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Leucaena (9) – Adam Spinks
2. Relatives (11) – Corey Bayliss
3. Exsidee (4) – Nathan Fazackerley
Time: 1:13.22
Margins: 3/4 length x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 5 – Clear Mountain Fairview Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap (1200m)
1. Fendbar (1) – Nathan Fazackerley
2. Party Prophet (6) – Morgan Butler
3. Doublesharkattack (5) – Kenji Yoshida
Time: 1:12.60
Margins: Short half head x long head

Race 6 – Pat Collins Pest Control 0-50 Handicap (1200m)
1. Maeve (5) – Kayla Barker
2. Flick (10) – Kelly Gates
3. Field Agent (2) – Adam Spinks
Time: 1:13.13
Margins: 3/4 length x 1 3/4 lengths

Race 7 – Fitzroy Hotel Nanango Cup Open Handicap (1600m)
1. Without Revenge (1) – Wayne O’Connell
2. Star Chance (14) – Morgan Butler
3. Moissanite (10) – Ty Wheeler
Time: 1:37.98
Margins: 4 1/2 lengths x nose