Suli's emotional tribute in Mulry memorial win

By Jordan Gerrans

Kelly Suli's victory in the Vale Wendy Mulry race carried extra meaning after decades spent working alongside the respected Central Queensland racing figure.

The late Wendy was involved across codes as a long-time committee member of the Rockhampton Jockey Club, while also maintaining a close connection to greyhound racing through her son Liam’s work as a broadcaster.

The popular CQ racing and media identity passed away last month.

She was 69 years of age.

Wendy and her husband Bob were regulars at tracks across Central Queensland and around Australia for decades.

The Rockhampton Greyhound Racing Club held a race named in her honour on Wednesday evening with Suli’s Spring Seam landing the prize from the two alley.

Like Wendy, Bajool conditioner Suli has been entrenched in both codes over the years and paid tribute to her late friend and colleague following the heartfelt triumph.

“I actually had a little bit to do with Wendy when I was the Operations Manager at the Rockhampton Jockey Club for 15 years and Wendy was a committee person then,” Suli said.

“Honestly, Wendy was someone who always had a positive thing to say about everything.

“I think she was always very quick to email and to say something went really well, such as a race day went really well.

“She was always really positive and always wanting to help.

“It was really, really sad to hear her passing. I knew she had been unwell. She was just a really lovely lady.

“The amount of comments and condolences that I've seen that the family have been getting on social media has really affected a lot of people in Rockhampton.”

Despite winning at the same venue on Sunday night, Spring Seam started as an outsider in the race, but the white and fawn bitch didn’t have too many concerns about her starting price as she went on to score by two lengths.

The sprinting bitch was previously prepared by Pauline Byers in South East Queensland and Suli says her kennel has been aiming to get Spring Seam back in the condition she was in earlier in her career.

“She has always been a little dog that we've had a lot of time for,” the trainer said.

“She can run, but she has always lacked a little bit of confidence and she's just always been a little bit overweight.

“We've been working on her weight and trying to get her back down to what she raced at in Brisbane.

“And, slowly but surely, it's coming off her, but she is a little nugget and she just seems to be racing really well.

“She loves the inside. So, when we saw that she drew box two, we knew that she'd be in it again.”

Wendy’s son Liam usually calls Rockhampton’s greyhound meetings, but missed the Wednesday card following the passing of his beloved mother.

Liam was in the broadcast booth for Yeppoon’s gallops meeting on Saturday of last week, but opted to not call the Wednesday dogs program from Callaghan Park.

“Liam was the light of her life,” Suli said.

“He always was. When he became a race caller, when he was so young and started off and they were always his number one supporters, his Mum and Dad.”

Broadcaster Nicholas Kutnjak called the meeting in Liam’s absence and made special mention of his colleague's late mother during the card.

“We are remembering Wendy Mulry, who passed away last week aged 69,” Kutnjak said.

“She was a beloved Central Queensland media identity and business stalwart. 

"She will be missed.”

At Friday’s Callaghan Park gallops meeting, jockeys wore black armbands in race three to recognise Wendy’s contribution to the Rockhampton Jockey Club and Central Queensland racing.

The RJC noted a celebration of Wendy’s life will be held at Callaghan Park later this month. 

As well as being on the club committee, Wendy also owned horses over the years.

She was well known throughout Central Queensland as a television personality before establishing Wendy Mulry Travel.

Former Rockhampton Jockey Club CEO Tony Fenlon also reflected on the life of the popular local figure.

“She’s a massive loss to the Rockhampton community, Wendy’s done a lot for the community, her and her family,” Fenlon said.

“She’ll be sadly missed.”