Dalby duo of Dave Reynolds and Leanne Mc Coy are on their way to Eagle Farm on June 22 to contest the final of the TAB Battle of the Bush Series, a $100,000 race for eligible horses.
And Minister for Local Government, Racing and Multi-Cultural Affairs, Hon Stirling Hincliffe lost no friends with the announcement that Goondiwindi Race Club would receive a grant of $115,000 to re furbish the dilapidated tie up stalls and Talwood and Texas Race Clubs would receive $20,000 to refurbish their starting stalls.
Gunsynd Park hosted the annual Inglewood Cup sponsored by Jeff Hannaford Accountants and the club hosted members of all adjoining Race Clubs due to the minister’s attendance. Stanthorpe, Texas, Talwood, Dalby and the Macintyre Picnic Race Club all attended what turned out to be a wonderful winter’s race day.
Racing commenced with the Goondiwindi Retailers & Hospitality Class B over 1000 metres. Matt Kropp and veteran jockey Gary Geran got things away to a good start for favourite backers when Spirits Silk $3.50 was too slick for the locally trained pair of Shelley’s Dream and Bold Crossing.
The Combined Hoteliers 2 & 3YO Maiden was a small field and the only runner with any disclosed form, Geng ridden by Geoffrey Snowden after a late pick up ride was far too good and won as he liked. Your My Boy Blue finished second.
The Goondiwindi Industrial Suppliers Benchmark 55 over 1200 metres was one of the best races of the day and proved once and for all that you can win from anywhere on this Goondiwindi track. Man Overboard ridden by Shannon Apthorpe was last on the turn and finished brilliantly to overhaul the heavily backed Beau in Chains. Glenbawns Duchess was third.
The Inglewood Cup sponsored by Jeff Hannaford Chartered Accountants was the feature event and Fab’s County was the even money favourite for the Battle of the Bush qualifier. However, he found one too good on the day in Music Scene, ridden by Leanne Mc Coy from the one alley. Marksfield was third. It will be interesting to see what unfolds in the final on June 22 at Eagle Farm when first three runners past the post will clash again in the final.
And so to the last, the Goondiwindi Agricultural Suppliers Benchmark 60 over 1400 metres and Tony Sears trained Show Em gave nothing else a chance after leading by 10 lengths to the turn. Thin Disguise held on for second but it was never in the hunt really.
Minister for Local Government, Racing and Multi Cultural Affairs, Hon Stirling Hinchliffe was guest of the Club and was suitably impressed with the facilities on hand at Gunsynd Park. President Geoff Makim welcomed the Mister and was even more grateful after the announcement that Goondiwindi would receive $115.000 to upgrade the Tie up Stalls and complete the replacement of running rail while Talwood & Texas will each receive $20,000 to refurbish their starting stalls.
The announcement was well received by the good crowd and certainly reinstated some confidence in the fact that Country arcing is certainly back on the map in Queensland.
President Geoff Makim, President of the Goondiwindi Race Club said “in all his time in Racing, he had never been so relieved to learn of the commitment from the Palaszczuk Government to Country Racing. You often hear plenty of talk” Makim said “but this is all action, not just talk. I can’t wait to get the upgrades underway”.