October 16, 2026
Rodney Hay, the former Taroom cattleman who is now based at Chinchilla, is a staunch and successful supporter of rural racing.
As well as training a team of his own gallopers, he has a number of performers in other stables.
At Tara a fortnight ago, he picked up the Cup quinella with Don Pedro, ridden by Kayla Barker and Villaden, handled by Hannah Richardson.
The former had already saluted in the Moree and Dalby Cups. The latter, with Richardson aboard again, is seeking its trophy in the Roy and Glenys Radunz Wondai Cup (1557m) on Saturday.
The South Burnett Race Club’s feature is an interesting study from a handicapping perspective. The minimum weight of 55kg is the mark for nine of the 10 acceptors in the open company contest. If the handicapper was in a position to give the “true weight” to that cohort, the allocations would range from 35kg to 52kg.
Although Villaden has to contend with 61kg and a wide gate, the Tavistock gelding does meet the lesser lights on favourable terms. The other plus is that Richardson is highly experienced around the track at the Showgrounds.
Although the bay is on debut at Wondai, he has prevailed twice on the sand at Bundaberg and did battle on stoutly over the 1400 metre journey at Tara.
Kilkivan horseman Kym Afford, whose string works out at Wondai, will saddle up Aces Up in the Wondai Cup.
The Ace High gelding made favourite backers happy when he came up trumps with Kelly Gates in the stirrups in last year’s Cup. This time around, apprentice Kayla Barker will be looking to take advantage of a good barrier draw.
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Doomben Riches Beckon
The Hobbs and Associates Country Stampede Qualifier provides its winner with an assured spot in the $105,000 final on the turf at Doomben on December 5.
Hay has three pronounced chances in the race.
He puts the polish on Ablett. The widely drawn hopeful, with a consistent career line of 27:10-2-3, is adept on non-grass tracks with three from three at Wondai, a tally of five at Roma and one at Gladstone.
Then there’s Holiday Dreams and Mamaragan, prepared by Afford for Hay. Holiday Dreams and Mamaragan have impressive records on the course. The former has two victories and a third placing from four assignments while the latter has scored here and also handles the Gympie sand well.
Smackeroony, the widely drawn candidate trained by Beau Gorman at Ipswich, has a perfect two-from-two strike rate at Wondai. The five-year-old by Spirit of Boom has been successful on a variety of surfaces. Matthew Powell will be in the pigskin for this 1000 metre dash.
On Friday morning, riders had not been indicated for eight acceptors so there may be a number of withdrawals from this Stampede heat.
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At the Jockey Declaration deadline on Thursday afternoon, eight women and two men had engagements.
The odds are that the $250 prize for the the day’s leading rider will go to the apt gender.
The annual Monica Ryan-Kathleen Hoult Memorial 0-50 Ratings will be the fourth race on the program. The talented sisters were members of the Ryan family, a group that has been a wonderful contributor to the local equine world.
When women rode all seven winners in an historic effort at Wondai on March 24, 1990, Monica visited the winner’s slot four times. Jenny Cochrane, Debbie Osborne and Jo Downes chalked up one each.
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A leg of the Burnett to the Beach series, restricted to horses that have competed in at least three non-TAB races in the last year, opens the program at 1:35pm.
Paper Cowboy, a sprinter from Trevor Thomas’s Sunshine Coast yard, has strong claims despite his wide draw. He is also unbeaten in three Wondai appearances.
Afford’s aspirant Amphawa is desperate for a change of fortune at Wondai. The brown gelding by Epaulette has earnt three runner-up cheques from his four attempts.
The stablemate, Joyful Conquest, is a last start Maiden winner at Gympie.
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The Wondai RSL QTIS Maiden Plate (2:10 pm) is a lottery.
These horses are yet to win a race. The weights for a Plate are automatically decided by the thoroughbred’s age and gender. Form is irrelevant.
The lightly raced Superior Fun, trained on the course by Michael Jeynes, is the only entrant to have competed at Wondai. The daughter of Supido has been placed five times from 15 tries and finished third at this meeting last year. The six-year-old hasn’t started since Australia Day but goes well fresh and will jump from the inside stall for Kayla Barker.
Do remember that horses trained at Wondai have direct course proper experience galloping on their home patch.
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Reminders
- There is a 45-minute gap between races from 2:45pm and 3:30pm. Entrants need to be ready for judging for the Country Meets Couture fashion contests in the quadrangle behind the line of mini marquees after the running of the third event.
- Racing is to the fore interstate with the Caulfield in Melbourne and The Everest at Randwick set to grab everyone’s attention. Sky Racing, bookmakers and a TAB are regular services.
- There is no ATM, so do bring cash.
- Do keep up to date with the South Burnett Race Club’s Facebook page
Good luck! See you trackside for the absorbing program.
