Macedon Ranges trained galloper Station One jumped out of the widest barrier quickly, surged to the front, and was never headed in the 2024 Massey Ferguson Woodend Cup on Saturday.
The five-year-old has now won four Country Cups, including three this season.
Trainer Liam Howley said it was a last minute decision to run the five-year-old at the Kyneton meeting after he had finished third in the Great Western Cup six days earlier.
A large contingent of Station One’s ownership group was present to see the five-year-old go round in the 1856-metre feature race.
The win probably assures Station One of a place in the $500,000 Victorian Country Cups Final to be run at Caulfield in November.
Howley put 23-year-old stable apprentice Danika Munro on the topweight, with the 4kg claim reducing his weight to 60.5kg.
Munro’s first win was on Bainbridge in the Elmore Cup last year, at only her second race ride.
The young rider grew up in northern New South Wales, and now resides in Kilmore.
Munro said she was excited to win the Woodend Cup, stating Station One “had done all the work”.
There were several well supported runners in the Cup, with Hanging Rock Cup winner Friday At Five sent out favourite, just ahead of Station One and The Cunning Fox.
On the home turn, Friday At Five and Bolshoi Princess – Howley’s second runner in the race – were within striking distance of Station One but the leader accelerated and with plenty of cheers from racegoers held on to win by 0.2 lengths from the fast finishing The Cunning Fox, with outsider Char third just in front of Bolshoi Princess.
The win took Station One’s earnings to $300,000.
Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club committee, with president Gary O’Meara at the helm, was pleased a local galloper could take out the Woodend Cup.
The 10-event program saw training honours go to James Cummings, with Rhapzodise and Dios, both ridden by Teo Nugent.
