Horse Racing
8 October, 2024
Station One takes out Murtoa Cup
Station One, trained by Liam Howley and ridden by Jack Hill, won the Murtoa Cup on Saturday, but a protest from second-placed Picaroon, ridden by Tom Madden, ensured they had to wait another 15 minutes for confirmation when stewards dismissed the protest.
The Murtoa Cup, ridden over a distance of 2050m, featured 11 horses. Station One drew gate 11 and from the outset went to the front of the race to set the tempo with Picaroon behind him. Tycoon Bec settled outside Station One with Stormsarrived sitting behind.
On the start of the turn, Stormsarrived hooked out three-wide with Off His Roca going four-wide. At the head of the straight, Stormsarrived put its head in front with Off His Roca alongside him.
Station One, however, found something extra in the straight and battled clear of those two with Picaroon going up his inside, and it was those two that battled it out, with Station One narrowly winning. Sunsets, ridden by Liam Riordan, stormed home for third place. Queen Takes King, ridden by Sarah Field, finished fourth.
Tom Madden, the jockey on Picaroon lodged a protest citing a block 300m from the finish, but it was later dismissed.
Station One paid $2.90 for the win and $1.80 for the place. Howley is located between Kyneton and the Macedon Rangers. He also trained another winner, Onlygoldwilldo, saluting Mitchell Aitken in race four.
It was an eight-race card at Murtoa, and three jockeys rode a double. Linda Meech saluted on Stay Humble in race one, and Wise Legend in race five and Joe Bowditch saluted on Coffin Dodger in race two and Cruz Missile in race eight.
Mitchell Aitken secured a back-to-back double in races 3 and 4, riding Onlygoldwilldo and Caroline Sunrise to victory.