Goondiwindi Race Club staged the rerun of the Vern Kleinschmidt Goondiwindi Community Trust Goondiwindi Cup on Saturday at Gunsynd Park. It was all part of the significant Gunsynd 50-year celebration weekend.
The six-race program highlighted the strength of the female ranks, with all six winners taken out by lady jockeys.
Racing commenced under clear skies, but as the afternoon progressed, the threat of the predicted storms became evident, and stewards moved races forward 5 minutes to ensure the program was completed.
The first race was the Knights Plant Hire Class B handicap over 1200 meters, and the heavily backed Tycoon Jim proved too strong under hard riding by Jodi Worley. Jodi is one of the hardest-working jockeys in the game and travels from Grafton to Goondiwindi to ride in races and never comes to Goondiwindi without winning at least one race. Toowoomba-trained Jet Spinner led all the way only to be pipped on the post with Dark Origins showing she is not far off winning another race.
Local hero, Fitzroy Boy gave nothing else a chance in the Black Truck Benchmark 60 and kept and the successful partnership of Lilli Barr, Barry Sheppard and Fitzroy Boy continued. In a barrier-to-box display, Fitzroy Boy was very short on price with $1.80 the best price bet. Phionaix was a gallant second and Joey Laws third but it was really a no contest.
Boult (Shania Willis) Bartalumba (Emily Lang Package (Lilli Barr) Photo courtesy of three way photos.
After winning a “No Race” at the Picnics a fortnight ago, Gertie Goer proved too strong for Missy’s Ready and Red Shiraz in the Ron Glasser Fencing QTIS Maiden Plate. Gertie Goer is trained by the Geran Racing Stable and was ridden by another great supporter of Gunsynd Park in Emily Lang.
Emily Lang made it a double with the Pat Webster trained Miss Cinnamoncider in the Thanks Tappy Band 58 Handicap when she made it two from two at Gunsynd Park. Miss Cinnamoncider opened favorite but eased slightly after there was strong support for The Defiant One but after an easy lead, Miss Cinnamoncider held off Contessa Nile with Abb Roy back in third place.
The feature event was the Vern Kleinschmidt Community Trust Goondiwindi Cup and a very even field of horses took part in the Cup. Oakfield Target was the early favorite and was solid in running third but another Toowoomba galloper in Tintinwin gave promising apprentice Shania Willis the first leg of a double in the two Cups. Tintinwin finished strongly and just held off a determined finish from River Mac with Oakfield Target in third. The track by now was downgraded to a good 4 and before the last, it was further downgraded to a soft 5.
Fitzroy Boy connections meet special guest John Tapp. Photo courtesy of three way photos.
The Battlers Cup over 1800 was the last of the day and Bartalumba had put the writing on the wall at the Picnics a fortnight ago but Kellie Monckton and the Warwick Trained Boult came along to spoil the party under steady riding from Shania Willis. Boult got an easy lead and while it looked like Bartalumba would go straight past him, Boult would not give in and proved too strong with Package in third.
And so ended another great day’s racing at Gunsynd Park. Special guest John Tapp was taken by the facilities and the enthusiasm Goondiwindi has for Country Racing.
Next meeting will be the Inglewood Cup and Goondiwindi Retailers Raceday on Saturday June 3 which is always a great day out. The Club has a couple of places available for group packages, and bookings can be made with Cutter Hayes on 0428 987522. Birthday parties and special occasion functions have become quite the flavour of the month with the excellent facilities and packages available.
All photos of Race Day courtesy of Three Photos
Cover Image:
TINTINWIN (Shania Willis) River Mac (Jodie Worley) Oakfield Target (Emily Lang)Photos courtesy of three way photos.
