HORSE RACING
By LIAM DURKIN
GET your boots, and your coat, for this wet as program.
Wet track specialist Station One put in a tough run to win this year’s Traralgon Cup.
The seven-year-old gelding held firm for most of the 1900 metre feature race last Sunday, getting home by three-quarters-of-a-length.
The win marked a second successive Traralgon Cup for the Liam Howley stable, following Station One’s win in 2023 (last year’s Traralgon Cup was abandoned).
Emotional scenes played out in the grandstand, with stable representatives riding every metre alongside 22-year-old jockey Ryan Keith Houston.
“It’s a tough run up the hill …. Station One’s clawed back the margin, he’s shot through!” race caller Adam Oslanski said as Station One overtook Rick’s Cafe in the final few strides.
Station One’s reputation as a king of country cups continued, with the Traralgon triumph marking his eighth title on the bush circuit.
“He’s an old war horse, really pleased to come back to Traralgon and win. We said pre-race to never give up on him, he’s a tough old bugger and he showed that again here today,” stable representative Mike Callinan said as he accepted the trophy, and an extra $10,000 in prizemoney, up from the usual $34,000.
The track was downgraded to a Heavy 9 by the time the Race 7 Bet365 Traralgon Cup rolled along, after the previous five races were held on a Heavy 8 and the meeting started on a Soft 7.
That more than 30 millimetres of rain fell the previous day reflected the ratings, but that being said, jockeys were quick to point out that the condition of the track was fit for good racing.
Station One entered the race a $2.80 favourite in a seven horse field that saw six runners scratched.
IN other races, Reel Crystal won the prestigious Latrobe Valley Express Maiden Plate (1900m) to begin the meeting, followed by The Mean Fiddler cruising to a five-length victory in the Race 2 Latrobe City Council Maiden Plate (1430m).
Beldari won the Race 3 Morwell Bowling Club Maiden Plate (1100m) in a thrilling finish that saw the top four horses separated by less than half-a-length.
The perhaps interestingly named Dirty Diana won a similarly competitive Race 4 WIN Television Gippsland Maiden Plate (1100m), ensuring a balanced representation of local media outlets on the day.
Another thrilling dash to the line was seen in the Race 5 Gippsland Racing “The Best Turf On Earth” BM62 Handicap (1100m), when Magnabelle Royale won by a head.
Aichi Icon said yee-haw, after getting up on the outside in the Race 6 Traralgon Rodeo January 11 BM62 Handicap (1900m) by a head, while Atageina closed the meeting by winning the TRFM BM62 Handicap (1430m).
