Station One in sight of double-figure country cups after Burrumbeet triumph

TOUGH as nails stayer Station One will be chasing an astonishing 10th country cup win when he next goes around in such a race following his thrilling triumph at Burrumbeet on New Year’s Day.

The Liam Howley-trained seven-year-old scored his ninth country cup victory when successful in an exciting 2026 edition of the $40,000 Burrumbeet Cup (1800m).

Ridden by Jack Hill, who previously rode the son of Toronado to cup success at Murtoa in 2024, Station One held on for another brave half-length frontrunning victory over Party At Five, who was attempting to become the first horse in 20 years to claim back-to-back cup wins at Burrumbeet, for her Ballarat trainer Henry Dwyer.

Fellow Ballarat galloper Proprietary – trained by Melody Cunningham and ridden by Lucinda Boyd – finished third.

An exciting win gave Howley and Station One back-to-back cup wins following success in the $80,000 Traralgon Cup (1900m) in late November.

Underlining his versatility, the Traralgon win was achieved on a heavy nine, while his victory at Burrumbeet was on a good three.

Testament to his fortitude and resilience, five of his last six country cup wins have all been by a margin of under one length.

Howley, who has training bases at both Macedon Lodge and Kyneton and is a dual Group 1 winner, has made no secret of his desire to hit double figures in country cup wins with Station One.

“Finding his level is the biggest key to him and making sure that we place him accordingly … (we) don’t overrace him,” he told broadcaster Racing.com.

“We gave him a winter prep this time around just because it was timing.

“He showed once again that he’s just not quite ready at that top class of metropolitan level, but as soon as we brought him back to country cup level, he went to Gunbower (in October) and got the job done.

“He’s a horse that has turned up season after season at that level and the cups speak for themselves.

“I think I worked out early on (in training) the satisfaction our (stable’s) owners get winning silverware. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a Group 1 or a $20,000 country cup, it probably means the same.

“The country cups in general are a great avenue for owners and for staff … good prizemoney and a little bit of silverware on the way.

“I’d love to get him to 10 cups; that would be a real credit to the horse and the team.

“But you never take it for granted that’s for sure.”

Station One boosted his career record to 11 wins, two seconds and six thirds from 49 starts for $505,800 in earnings.

His cup wins include the 2022 Kyneton Cup (run at Bendigo); 2023 Dunkeld and Traralgon Cups; 2024 Woodend (run at Kyneton), Marong (run at Bendigo) and Murtoa Cups; 2025 Gunbower and Traralgon Cups; and 2026 Burrumbeet Cup.

A stirring win gave jockey Hill his second Burrumbeet Cup success. He previously won the race on Unfurl in 2017.