{"id":82076,"date":"2014-09-19T21:37:41","date_gmt":"2014-09-19T11:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=82076"},"modified":"2020-11-27T10:16:23","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T00:16:23","slug":"wondais-wonderful-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/09\/19\/wondais-wonderful-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Wondai’s Wonderful Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
South Burnett apprentice jockey Rhiannon Payne holds the Deagon Cup after her win last Sunday on Hivesville trainer Peter Blackwell’s Count Romano (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>September 19, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Ross Stanley<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local knowledge dominated at Deagon last Sunday – all the winning thoroughbreds worked at the racecourse, either in the past or present. But it took a South Burnett unit to prevent a clean sweep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The quadrella by Steele Ryan\u2019s string, together with the victories of Michael Lakey’s and Bradley Smith\u2019s entries, meant that Moreton Bay stables flew the neighbourhood flag proudly.<\/p>\n

Jockey Dale Missen was in blistering form, chalking up a quadrella while Lakey\u2019s apprentice Beau Appo chipped in with one for his master.<\/p>\n

French rider Julien Kokotajlo added an international touch with his display on Grantly Miss.<\/p>\n

But the exception to the pattern came in the Brisbane Bombers NRL Bid Deagon Cup (BM 70, 2100m).<\/p>\n

Count Romano ($6), a former lodger at Lakey\u2019s yard, acquired the trophy.<\/p>\n

The Peter Blackwell-prepared Latarmiss gelding was handled by apprentice Rhiannon Payne.<\/p>\n

After the horse dropped back early, the eight-year-old was stalking in second position behind Adenarius ($1.50) in the run to the turn.<\/p>\n

But over the final part, the well-conditioned galloper raced away to score by almost three lengths.<\/p>\n

Blackwell, although based at Hivesville, supplements his property\u2019s training facilities with the use of the Wondai circuit as the need arises.<\/p>\n

And Payne, who is indentured to Kumbia\u2019s James Curtain, lives at Wondai and splits her week\u2019s track work roster with mornings at Dalby, Toowoomba and Kumbia.<\/p>\n

Payne really knows the meaning of travelling to earn a crust. During the past year she has ridden at around 33 venues including extremities such as Mount Isa, Lismore, Rockhampton, Beaudesert and Talwood.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old horse enthusiast first started working with thoroughbreds at Mackay and Mount Isa.<\/p>\n

When Norma King\u2019s team was centred in the north-west for three months in 2012, Rhiannon joined up as her apprentice.<\/p>\n

The stable provided her initial winner in the shape of Subu\u2019s Image at Clermont almost two years ago.<\/p>\n

“For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be jockey,” Rhiannon told me.<\/p>\n

Hoofnote:<\/strong> The South Burnett also made its presence felt in the Saturday action.<\/p>\n

Wondai trainers Norma King and Tony Williams started the ball rolling by saddling up their respective winners Fiscal Cliff and Western Maizcay at Thangool.<\/p>\n

And rookie Shenny Chan, the Hong Kong lad who is apprenticed to Brisbane\u2019s Brian Wakefield (Jr), took out the Thangool Cup with Coco Dubawi.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Deagon<\/a>
How they run their Fashions Of The Field competition at Deagon (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deagon Community Did Back Up<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although the second edition of the Deagon Community Race Day was not an immediate sell-out, the attendance figure for last Sunday\u2019s meeting was in the thousands.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There were more in-field structures accommodating the crowd. But given that it is a once-a-year happening, other aspects of a usual meeting were understandably missing.<\/p>\n

However, there were bands and bookmakers scattered around the precinct.<\/p>\n

There was also some early entertainment for the children, some old-fashioned novelty events for older patrons, the usual fashion contest and lots of foldaway chairs arranged in sociable circles.<\/p>\n

It was odd to see a TAB meeting with such low prize money ($6000 per race), there was no Sky coverage and a five horse event somehow escaped deletion at acceptance time.<\/p>\n

But certainly, the meeting has a place on the calendar.<\/p>\n

It is a strongly patronised country-style meeting inside city borders.<\/p>\n

\"Deagon<\/a>
Racetrack clowns added to the fun at the Deagon Community Race Day (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Countdown To Flemington<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There was an interesting twist around the weights for the Melbourne Cup that were issued this week.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter indicated he had to give contenders two kilograms more than their actual assessment warranted.<\/p>\n

The move was necessary because the top-weight must be allotted at least 58kg.<\/p>\n

Should the recipient, Admire Rakti, not be a final acceptor, there will be another across the board rise.<\/p>\n

Surely any lift should be left until the end phase in case there is a repeat of 1982 when Gurner\u2019s Lane was penalised three kilograms for his Caulfield Cup triumph.<\/p>\n

However, in this somewhat gently, gently era, an addition of that size is unlikely to be repeated any time soon.<\/p>\n

It says something about the quality of the entries when a prospect that has not won above Group 3 level in 13 black-type appearances is given the honour of top spot, a position held previously by the likes of Phar Lap (1930, 62.5kg; 1931, 68kg), Tulloch (1959, 65kg), Northerly (2004, 60kg), Rising Fast (1956, 64.5kg) and Gay Icarus (1972, 61kg).<\/p>\n

The trend towards overseas-breds numerically having the upper hand in the Cup is set to continue.<\/p>\n

The national proportions in the nominations are as follows: Ireland (43), Great Britain (29), Australia (29), New Zealand (25), Germany (9), USA (7), France (7) and Japan (1).<\/p>\n

The make-up for the final field last year was Ireland (10), Great Britain (5), Australia (5), Germany (2), France (2) and, surprisingly, New Zealand (0).<\/p>\n

The count for 2012 (when the first seven to finish were all Irish-born) was Ireland (10), New Zealand (4), USA (3), Great Britain (2), France (2), Australia (2) and Germany (1).<\/p>\n

The 14 Cup winners this century shape up as follows: Fiorente, Green Moon and Makybe Diva were born overseas but were Australian-owned.<\/p>\n

The raiders Dunaden, Americain and Media Puzzle all won the Geelong Cup while Delta Blue put the writing on the wall in the Caulfield Cup.<\/p>\n

Shocking, Viewed, Efficient, Ethereal and Brew were of Anzac extraction.<\/p>\n

So, it is now jotting time. Make a note to let any “hit and run” starters that have NOT raced in Australia run against you.<\/p>\n

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

Racing On TV<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Channel 72 on free-to-air television is now showing most of the Sydney and Melbourne cards live each Saturday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ryan Phelan and Simon Marshall anchor the series that offers racing coverage to non-pay television folk.<\/p>\n

The program is a means of following candidates in their lead-ups.<\/p>\n

One part of the task is to pick out the galloper that is going to be at its peak for the 3200 metre assignment on the first Tuesday of November.<\/p>\n