Sport
7 October, 2024
Stawell jockey Jack Hill wins Murtoa Cup in thrilling photo finish
Liam Howley's Station One edges Picaroon for Murtoa Cup win.
There's an Andrew Bobbin picture for the STN print copy
Stawell jockey Jack Hill has claimed his most significant win of the season, taking out the 2050m Murtoa Cup on Saturday, October 5.
Hill, riding $3 race favourite Station One, led from the front to win the $50,000 race in a photo finish from Picaroon.
It was an important win for the six-year-old bay gelding, losing the Coleraine Cup on September 27 after leading the race.
In Murtoa, Station One started strong and established a two-length lead from Picaroon and Sunsets.
With 400m left, Picaroon launched forward and was neck and neck with Station One; as the heads moved up and down, the latter claimed the cup by the smallest of margins.
It kicked off a run of purple form for Hill, finishing second in race seven with Keane Enuff and third in race eight with Jet Jitsu.
He also claimed a third with the Paul Preusker-trained Budjik Boy in race three, the 1600m Maiden Plate.
Hill backed up his seven races on Saturday with another three in Mildura on Sunday. He took Dartboard to its first in the 1400m Maiden Plate.
The Murtoa Cup victory was Ballarat trainer Liam Howley's seventh Victorian country racing win for the season.
Howley also claimed victory with Onlygoldwilldo in race three.
More importantly, it was Station One first win of the season and eighth of its career.
Stawell form continues
Meanwhile, fellow Stawell jockey Linda Meech claimed wins in race one on Stay Humble and race five on Wise Legend.
While he didn't enjoy any success in Murtoa, Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin claimed his eighth win of the season earlier in the week.
On Friday, October 4, Pulveriser won the 2350m Handicap Highweight in Warrnambool by almost three lengths.
The five-year-old gelding came from behind to claim its first win of the season and third of its career.