Everything is in readiness for the 2024 Kyneton Cup race meeting tomorrow (Wednesday), with a large attendance of both locals and visitors anticipated.
Macedon Ranges trainer Liam Howley is making a double-pronged bid to win another Kyneton Cup, with his 2022 winner Station One and New York Hurricane in the field.
The $125,000 bet365 Kyneton Cup will be run over 2000 metres at the picturesque local course, where Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club conducts 13 of its 15 meetings this season.
A public holiday applies in Kyneton and surrounds, including Malmsbury and Trentham and parts of Cadello and Carlsruhe (basically the former Shire of Kyneton area), in recognition of the significance of the Cup meeting.
Sandwiched between the Melbourne Cup (today) and Oaks Day at Flemington, the Kyneton Cup meeting is an important component of the Spring Racing Carnival in Victoria.
Gates open at 11am, and a nine-event program is scheduled.
In 2022, when racing returned to normal after years of COVID disruptions, heavy rain meant the Kyneton Cup was transferred to Bendigo.
This is where Howley won the feature event with Station One, ridden by Craig Newitt.
It was the first locally-trained winner of the Kyneton Cup since the Neil Dyer-trained mare Mrs Bently was successful some 20 years earlier.
Cup Day is usually a very social occasion, with marquees booked out well in advance.
Some overseas visitors in Victoria for the Spring Carnival are expected to make their first trip to Kyneton tomorrow.
Liam Howley has well-established training centres at Macedon Lodge and Kyneton.
The stable will have strong representation at Cup Day, with several runners across the program.
Six-year-old Station One has been a stable star, and the tenacious galloper has notched up eight wins and prize money of $399,050 from 37 starts.
As well as winning the 2022 Kyneton Cup, Station One ran third last year.
His last win was in the Murtoa Cup earlier this season, followed by a close second carrying 58kg in the Horsham Cup on October 20.
Five-year-old New York Hurricane has chalked up six wins and earned $304,435 for his contingent of owners.
His latest success was over 2019 metres at Morphettville, when he scored by four lengths.
TWO IN TWO DAYS
The Howley stable has already landed two winners this week.
On Monday, Onlygoldwilldo started as second favourite and won narrowly at Ballarat, thanks to a great ride by Jason Maskiell.
The $175,000 TAB Trophy race over 1800m at Flemington today (Tuesday) was won by promising three-year-old Opening Address, ridden by top jockey James McDonald.
Having his fourth start, Opening Address was well supported to start as equal favourite.
Later in the day, the 2024 Melbourne Cup was won by Knight’s Choice, ridden by Robbie Dolan and trained by John Symons and Sheila Laxon.
Warp Speed ran second, with Okita Soushi third in the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’.
As in many Kyneton Cups, there appears to be a number of runners with good chances tomorrow.Racing club president Gary O’Meara and his committee, and club staff, have been working hard to ensure the success of tomorrow’s meeting.
Club memberships can be purchased at the racecourse tomorrow.
FASHIONS ON THE FIELD
Fashions on the Field are a traditional activity at many Cup meetings, and Kyneton is no exception.
There are various categories, with registrations accepted on course between 11am and 12.30pm.
Casey Bruce will be the ‘Fashions’ compère, with the three judges being Hayley Giemza, Brooke Colbert and Rebecca Gannon.
Categories are: Best Millinery; Couple of the Day; Local Lady of the Day, and Lady of the Day.
The local club is appreciative of the support of sponsors for various races, and for Fashions on the Field.
A history of the Kyneton District Racing Club, from 1866 to 1974, written by George Bremner, was published in 1974.
KYNETON CUP FIELD
bet365 Kyneton Cup, race 8, 4.45pm
1. Keats (IRE) (8). Trainer: G.M. Bedggood, Jockey: C.G. Gaudray, Weight: 60.5kg
2. Mankayan (IRE) (2). Trainer: C. Maher, Jockey: J. Allen, Weight: 59.5kg
3. Too Close the Sun (4). Trainer: C. Maher, Jockey: J. Mott, Weight: 58kg
4. Promises Kept (9). Trainer: C. Maher, Jockey: D. Bates, Weight: 56kg
5. Grand Pierro (1). Trainer: J. Warren, Jockey: W.T. Price, Weight: 54.5kg
6. Mathew (NZ) (3). Trainer: Patrick and Michelle Payne, Jockey: J. McNeil, Weight: 54kg
7. Station One (6). Trainer: L. Howley, Jockey: C. Newitt, Weight: 54kg
8. New York Hurricane (7). Trainer: L. Howley, Jockey: H.T. Coffey, Weight: 54kg
9. Flossing (NZ) (5). Trainer: T. Busuttin and N.Young, Jockey: D. Moor, Weight: 54kg
