Goondiwindi has always been close to Ken’s heart as he was born in the Goondiwindi hospital, and the vast majority of his family remain in the Goondiwindi region.
He rode one day at the Sundy in Gundy meeting and a chance meeting with Barrie Greenup, owner of the legendary Chief de Beers later saw Ken as the preferred jockey on the horse when successful in the Doomben 10,000 and now Ken has notched up a double at only his second meeting.
“Yeah, I have made a lot of friends through country racing and I wouldn’t change a thing I have done in my career in country racing.
“Country clubs just strive so hard to make things work and make the meetings a success and what the Goondiwindi Race Club has achieved over the rebuilding program they began some seven years ago, is nothing short of amazing.
“These clubs actually deserve a little more support,” Waller said after the meeting on Saturday and I find it a privilege to support them.
“Goondiwindi was recently upgraded to a Strategic Club and there’s no doubt the extra prizemoney was a super boost for our Club. That along with the turf track has really paid dividends,” president Geoff Makim declared as the final wash-up was released on Sunday morning.
The only down side to the meeting was a bunch of heartless thieves who decided they needed the donated plasma TV and TAB and club computers more than the club did when they completed a break-in on Saturday night.
An angry president Geoff Makim could not put into words we could use on how disappointed he was.
The first race was the Maiden Plate over 1400 metres and this got the Waller show underway. Beyond Faith was the short price favorite and looked to have the race in safe keeping until the turn, when Mesadie Miss came form the clouds to take the thick end of the prize. Za Lovett and Klaka also ran on well. Mesadie Miss was ridden by another local Goondiwindi born jockey in Stephen Galvin.
Ray McCall travelled from Caloundra with Queen of Bling in the second the Class 2 1400 metrehandicap but once again, the Waller stable struck this time with Domain. Domain and another local horse Cilica came away to fight out the finish but Domain was far too good in the run to the line. Queen of Bling held on for third.
The third was the XXXX Gold Goondiwindi Cup and what a good race it looked on paper. Cole Trickle from the Ray McCall stable was favorite but it was always going to be an open affair. In the end, Malita from the very consistent Pat Sexton stable and ridden by Melody O’Brien was successful. It was the first leg of a winning double for Melody who has ridden a winner on the track at nearly every meeting since the turf track.
Three Chances finished very strongly taking second and Lasrado held on for third.
Malita had won at Warwick only two starts back and started at the amazing odds of $17.
QTIS events are always popular in the bush and the 1000metre maiden was no exception.
The Tony Gollan trained Flashing Flora looked the goods and the heavy support saw it start a short price favorite. Flashing Flora led easily from the wide draw and look home on the turn when from the blue, first starter Jatoille came from the clouds to win well. Jatoile is by Sequalo from a Semipalatinsk mare and is sure to win better races on that performance. Flashing Flora was second and was unlucky to run into the winner while Blare was a creditable third.
The Class 4 was a field of eight and the only race not to have a capacity field. None the less, it was a quality field of sprinters. Texas horse Classic Ann was heavily backed but was no match for the ever consistent Nattsukee again ridden by Melody O Brien.
Nattsukee just loves the Goondiwindi track as her record now is four starts for three wins and a third. Likewise, trainer Russell Kirwin seems to saddle up a winner at every Gunsynd park meeting these days. Final Opinion and lady in Sequence completed the minor placings.
And so to the last, the Class B over 1200 metres which again was a n open affair. Killarney trainer Les Clarke presented Fancy Bachelor beautifully and Renee Hendricks got the gelding through an inside gap to come through and take the money. Shumie Go held on for second while Wide Bay made it a Warwick district trifecta.
And so, Goondiwindi now goes into recess for the summer months. It seems unusual that a Club with these facilities and a turf track has to go into recess over the summer months yet race through the winter months when the turf is hardest to maintain. The club needs to have a look at their program of dates carefully.
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