Ima Joker too good

SOUTH Burnett race goers were out in force at Kumbia on Tuesday to celebrate the biggest day on the Australian racing calendar.

Kumbia Race Club hosted their 41st annual Melbourne Cup Day Races highlighted by the running of the Kumbia Cup.

Hundreds of race goers from the South Burnett and across south-east Queensland attended the five race meeting where they witnessed the Toowoomba-trained Ima Joker win the Kumbia Cup.

Kumbia-based trainer James Curtain and Kingaroy's Tom Moloney had a successful local meeting with the Curtain-trained Leica Fuse winning Race 3 while the Moloney-trained Johnny Fickle was victorious in the opening race.

Both local trainers also earnt further placings on the day with the Curtain-trained Dame Judi finishing third in Race 1 and the Moloney-trained Chief Chargingbear finishing third in the Kumbia Cup.

Kumbia Race Club secretary Wendy Mathews said the race day went off without a hitch.

"It was a really top day and the weather was brilliant and it was a bit more of a carnival like atmosphere. It was the extra marquees, which added to it," she said.