No 2024 Ballarat Cup for Cups King

He could be described as the King of the Country Cups.

Station One has been here there and everywhere throughout Victoria tackling small Country Cups.

However, trainer Liam Howley has elected to bypass the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday in favour of the Global Turf Handicap (2000m) instead.

Along the journey Station One has collected the 2022 Kyneton Cup (transferred to Bendigo), the 2023 Dunkeld Cup, the 2023 Traralgon Cup, the 2024 Marong Cup and the 2024 Murtoa Cup.

Other Cup races that he has contested have been the Seymour Cup, two more Kyneton Cups, the Woodford Cup, the Great Western Cup, the Yarra Valley Cup, the Stawell Cup, the Mildura Cup, the Coleraine Cup and the Horsham Cup.

After finishing second in the Horsham Cup on October 20, Station One went on to run in his third Kyneton Cup, finishing last, but Howley said that race did not set up well for the galloper.

“I think having horses like Keats in the race, it was always going to be genuinely ran, and they just went way too quick on the rock-hard ground,” Howley said.

“He’s always been better when he can get his toes in, and I won’t say jarred up, but he really felt it.

“Before that leading in, we had him ready to peak. I had steered away from those horses the whole way along, but I just felt being the home Cup, and he was in such a good spot that I thought, right, I will take them on, on our patch, but it was just too treacherous out front.

“We’ve given him a little freshen up, he’s really bounced back, his work has been really good, I’m happy with his condition, and I think this race suits him.”

Howley had Station One down to run in the Traralgon Cup last Sunday, but that meeting was abandoned.

He felt that was the right race to get Station One back into winning form, but with that washed out, Saturday’s Ballarat race was a nice replacement option.

Apprentice Rose Hammond takes the ride, and her 3kg claim will be beneficial in Howley’s eyes.

While Station One has won eight races from 38 starts and just over $400,000 in prize money, Howley said the gelding was the victim of his own success.

“He’s been running around for lesser prize money, winning and getting three or four ratings points, while the same level horse has been running around for $130,000 and getting the same penalty,” Howley said.

“I felt that he and the owner deserved an opportunity to have a crack at some decent prize money, so hopefully a win here would be good.”