{"id":303186,"date":"2021-07-30T22:25:41","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T12:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=303186"},"modified":"2021-07-31T00:55:17","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T14:55:17","slug":"diggity-is-no-duffer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/07\/30\/diggity-is-no-duffer\/","title":{"rendered":"Diggity Is No Duffer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Diggity (Isabella Teh) and Tom Moloney pictured at Kumbia (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd'sJuly 30, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Lewis Duff Memorial Handicap is the main event that opens proceedings at Wondai on Saturday, and regulars may recall that topweight Diggity scored by nine lengths with a potent display over the same course and distance last October.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Punters will not be offered any fancy odds about the sprinter that is raced by Bob and Dorothy Black, his breeder Mark Ruff and his wife Shelley.<\/p>\n

Tom Moloney\u2019s charge, to be handled again by the claiming apprentice Isabella Teh, took the eye with a hat-trick of wins at Gatton, Wondai and Kumbia earlier this season.<\/p>\n

The sparingly raced five-year-old by Equiano (Fr) was not disgraced next up in tougher company at Ipswich before finishing in the middle of the pack from a very wide gate in a large field at Doomben.<\/p>\n

Although the gelding has not appeared since running second at Warra in December, he does tick most boxes.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Kelly Gates\u2019 mount Allena will be a threat if she can recapture her autumn form. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Zizou mare will have home track advantage and although she has not started here, she has work experience on the circuit.<\/p>\n

After a second placing in April at Noorama in the state\u2019s extreme south west, Chamberlain prevailed at Blackall.<\/p>\n

The All American gelding then failed at Quilpie.<\/p>\n

The nine-time winner was rearward when he resumed at Gympie a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n

At his best, the galloper from Royce Connolly\u2019s Kumbia yard is tough to toss.<\/p>\n

Finally, Miralie is somewhat enigmatic. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The gelding is by So You Think and is the thirteenth and final foal dropped by the Golden Slipper heroine Merlene.<\/p>\n

Despite the likes of Zabeel High Chaparral and Encosta de Lago being some of Merlene\u2019s breeding barn mates, stakes winners have not been an outcome.<\/p>\n

In the Stephanie Duff Memorial, the cleverly named Igbo makes his Queensland debut.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This cuddy has much in common with his stablemate Diggity.<\/p>\n

Both were bred by Ruff, previously trained in Victoria by Michael and Luke Cerchi and sired by Equiano, the French sire that was named for Olaudah Equiano.<\/p>\n

He was a famous writer and vigorous anti-slavery campaigner from Southern Nigeria where the people were known as Igbos.<\/p>\n

Apparently he was kidnapped as a youth in Africa, taken to the Caribbean and sold as a slave three times before he managed to buy his freedom in 1766.<\/p>\n

Ruff, who also is a camp-drafting enthusiast, bought Igbo\u2019s grand-dam Irish Nova.<\/p>\n

She produced the dual Group One New Zealand winner Sacred Star which Mark sold for $200,000 as yearling.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Leanne McCoy and A Good Chance cruising home at Wondai on Anzac Day (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Good Chances Again<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Local trainer Neville \u201cShorty\u201d O\u2019Toole, his wife Denise and jockey Leeanne McCoy are seeking three in a row with A Good Chance in the Kevin Duff Memorial BM 55 Handicap.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After saluting on home sand on Anzac Day and at Burrandowan two weeks later, the three-year-old was spelled.<\/p>\n

Positive experience on the course counts for a lot.<\/p>\n

Hivesville mentor Lindsay Anderson also knows what it takes to be on top at Wondai.<\/p>\n

Kentford, his acceptor for the Neal Duff Memorial BM 65 Handicap, has a 3:2-1-0 record on the track and the bay is unbeaten over the 1000 metre trip.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, his journey on Saturday, with Hannah Richardson as pilot, will be almost 600 metres further.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Susan Kirk, Kathy Duff, Joshua Morrow and Toni O’Shannessy after the 2019 Burrandowan Cup presentation to the winning jockey (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Missed Omen Chance<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Earlier this month at Wondai\u2019s washed out meeting, the former heavyweight jockey Joshua Morrow was all set to saddle up Parlour, his first runner as a trainer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The presence of Kathy Duff that day may have proved lucky.<\/p>\n

After 29 losing rides during the first four testing months in the pigskin, the tall lad was victorious on The Irons in the 2019 Burrandowan Cup.<\/p>\n

The bonus for Morrow was Duff\u2019s hand made jewellery piece that she presents annually to the successful Cup jockey.<\/p>\n

Kathy\u2019s generous gesture commemorates the race day fluke that led to the marriage of her grandparents John and Dorothea Duff.<\/p>\n

In short, to be eligible to start in the 1922 Lady\u2019s Bracelet, John\u2019s horse Thunderclap had to be nominated in the name of a lady.<\/p>\n

Dorothea was the complete stranger that agreed to help out and, as they say, the rest is history.<\/p>\n

Although weight was his perennial nemesis, Morrow travelled far and wide to compete.<\/p>\n

Later In 2019, he battled away in arenas ranging from Mount Isa to Gladstone to Cunnamulla,<\/p>\n

Joshua\u2019s final throw at the stumps was aboard Eight Over when the duo finished second at Bundaberg on June 2, 2020.<\/p>\n

His previous 49 engagements had harvested three wins, eight seconds, eight thirds and ten fourth placings.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The International Connection<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Shane McGovern is due to wear a black jacket with a white kiwi emblem when he partners Husson\u2019s Shout, Begin and Let\u2019s Go Champ.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The trio are prepared at Roma by his wife Kim.<\/p>\n

With that livery, it is no surprise to learn that the couple are former New Zealanders.<\/p>\n

They will be hoping that their visit to Wondai will be as fortunate as their introduction to Yeppoon back in October 2010.<\/p>\n

McGovern, a former jumps jockey in the Shaky Isles, was having his first race ride in 14 years, and remarkably he booted home Bose.<\/p>\n

Kim was also in the money. She was a part-owner of Sobeit, the winner of that day\u2019s Newmarket for Donna Philpot.<\/p>\n

Shane was to score on that horse at Murwillumbah in November 2011.<\/p>\n

The McGovern\u2019s silks are a classic fit for the day\u2019s black and white fashion theme.<\/p>\n

With a forecast of a sunny day and a maximum of 23 degrees, a trackside outing is an ideal way to spend Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

See you at the track!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n