{"id":74138,"date":"2014-07-14T00:33:56","date_gmt":"2014-07-13T14:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=74138"},"modified":"2020-11-30T10:22:46","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T00:22:46","slug":"winter-wonderland-at-wondai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/07\/14\/winter-wonderland-at-wondai\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Wonderland At Wondai"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Wondai<\/a>
Courtney Schultz, from Murgon, and Olivia Sells, from Wheatlands, enjoyed the sunny race day weather that followed a morning of sub-zero temperatures across the region<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Wondai<\/a>
Tom Eggerling with Fashions Of The Field compere Cr Ros Heit … Cr Heit joked she wore a pink dress at Saturday’s meeting ‘to preserve another Duff tradition’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 14, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local knowledge paid off at Saturday’s Wondai Races with trainer Norma King – and the Duff name – dominating.<\/p>\n

King enjoyed two wins on her home track: Flight Command and Vain Dazzler took out line honours in the third and fifth races.<\/p>\n

But King was pipped at the post by Gatton trainer Lyn Paton in the day’s feature race, the 1465m Lewis Duff Memorial Class B Handicap.<\/p>\n

Paton’s horse Heart’n Soul streaked past the winning post a length ahead of King’s Master Vinnie.<\/p>\n

The win assured Paton a trophy presented by Cedric Duff, a direct descendant of Lewis Duff who was one of the founders of racing at Wondai almost 100 years ago.<\/p>\n

She was delighted to win the trophy and said she would “certainly be coming back again”.<\/p>\n

The Duff name was also prominent in Race 2 with Cedric’s twin brother Pat, a Brisbane-based trainer, trackside to oversee his horse Lily My Girl bringing home the money.<\/p>\n

The brothers were keen to remind racegoers the Duff name has been associated with Wondai racing ever since the family settled in the area in 1910.<\/p>\n

Cedric said he’ll be returning in October, promising a $400 prize at the race club’s Caulfield Cup meeting to the woman who wins that day’s Fashions Of The Field competition.<\/p>\n

Other local trainers who did well on Saturday included Glenn Richardson and James Curtain who both scored placings with their charges.<\/p>\n

Jockey Robert Faehr went home smiling after notching up two wins and a second.<\/p>\n

And despite freezing sub-zero temperatures early on Saturday morning with the mercury dipping as low as minus seven degrees in some parts of the South Burnett, the meeting attracted a lively crowd keen for a fun day at the track.<\/p>\n

South Burnett Cr Ros Heit deputised for regular Cr Kathy Duff – who was in Brisbane attending a conference – to organise the Fashions Of The Field competition which had a “Winter Wonderland” theme.<\/p>\n

The competition was judged by Nanango Race Club president John Lee and Gloria Kirkness from the Nanango Tourism & Development Association.<\/p>\n

Cr Heit said she was wearing a pink dress partly to honour a tradition established by Cr Duff, and partly because “when Kathy’s around I’m not allowed to wear pink anyway”.<\/p>\n

Anna Pukallus, from Widgee, took out the Ladies category; Tom Eggerling the Men’s; and Sean and Amanda Erwin were judged the best-dressed couple.<\/p>\n