{"id":347686,"date":"2024-05-03T13:57:26","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T03:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=347686"},"modified":"2024-05-03T14:44:20","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T04:44:20","slug":"four-generations-rejoiced-at-wondai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/05\/03\/four-generations-rejoiced-at-wondai\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Generations Rejoiced At Wondai"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Four generations celebrated Jain’s recent Wondai victory (Photo: Three Way Photos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/p>\n

May 3, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kinship was to the fore when Jain and her regular jockey Kelly Gates prevailed at home at Wondai on Anzac Day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Sammy Sequalo mare had a very local cheer squad. Val Ryan was the radiant and proud matriarch. Her late husband Colin was a highly respected, long-time starter at Wondai and other South Burnett venues.<\/p>\n

Val\u2019s daughters Leanne Ryan and Narelle and her husband Jeff Wenck were three of the nine part-owners of the sprinter that is yet to miss a place at Wondai.<\/p>\n

The Wencks\u2019 daughters Kristen Roon and Lauren O\u2019Neill are also in the happy syndicate as are their respective husbands Bodie and Harley.<\/p>\n

Jeff\u2019s sister Paula and her husband Michael Hedges round out the list of nine bill-payers. The youngest pair of barrackers were Kristen and Bodie\u2019s children Ryan and Paityn.<\/p>\n

To add more to the tale, Jeff Wenck is the South Burnett Race Club\u2019s president and Lauren is the secretary.<\/p>\n

Kristen, Jain\u2019s trainer and track rider, did a great job ensuring that the Drumbeats four-year-old was fit enough to run out a strong metric five furlongs in the Norm Andresen Memorial.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Brooke Johnson and Holiday Dreams scored comfortably at Wondai on Anzac Day (Photo: Three Way Photos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile, apprentice Brooke Johnson made her southern sortie worthwhile on Holiday Dreams in the Ken Mills Machinery Burnett To The Beach 0-60 Handicap. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The talented showjumper, who is indentured to Clinton Taylor, left her Rockhampton base around breakfast time.<\/p>\n

Successful owner-trainer Rodney Hay gave Johnson, 21, the opportunity to ride his Wondai runners as a reward for her efforts aboard his Taylor-trained horses.<\/p>\n

In the middle of last year, Brooke booted home six successive winners, courtesy of trebles at Bundaberg and Yeppoon. She has outridden her country claim and is a promising provincial hoop, with recent wins at Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n

The South Burnett Race Club\u2019s Anzac Day crowd was huge and well-behaved with the marquees selling out early in March.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The July 6 meeting is the Duff Memorial race day.<\/p>\n

All events are being sponsored by family members Kathy Duff and Cedric Duff … and Kathy is, of course, the new South Burnett Regional Council Mayor.<\/p>\n

A novel offering by the race club is free admission to all patrons that travel by a commercial charter bus.<\/p>\n

There is plenty of time for out-of-towners to organise the necessary large party.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n
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They’ll soon be off and running at Burrandowan (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Burrandowan Reminders For May 11<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Burrandowan\u2019s website<\/a> and Facebook page<\/a> really cover the bases for the day that John Williamson\u2019s Home Among The Gum Trees could well be the theme music.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sheep and kangaroos are not wanted but city slickers certainly will absorb the bush ambience.<\/p>\n

A standout point is that there is no ATM and no reliable mobile service.<\/p>\n

The online information deals with Frequently Asked Questions: ticketing, transport and travel directions, camping, pit-fired night barbecus, pre-booked food options, the table “bling’ competition, fashion contests, accommodation in the district and merchandise (which\u00a0 includes the ultra-comprehensive “100 Years of Racing at Burrandowan” book that was meticulously put together by Judith Grimes OAM).<\/p>\n

First-timers and stalwarts should also check out John Dalton\u2019s superbly composed and expertly executed cavalcade of 2023 photographs.<\/p>\n

On the racing front, the program is outstanding.<\/p>\n

The agenda includes a $14,000 Battle of the Bush heat, with the winner assured of a berth in the $200,000 Final at Eagle Farm on June 29; the $20,000 Burnett to Beach Final and the Maiden Plate that is boosted by QTIS bonuses. The club also pays a $100 travel rebate for each starter that does not earn prize money.<\/p>\n

It is time to get busy!<\/strong><\/p>\n