Punters had to wait until the last race to collect off a local winner at Kyneton & Hanging Rock Racing Club’s time-honoured and successful Woodend Cup meeting last Saturday.
Young Kyneton trainer Jarrod Robinson saddled up Monaco Countess ($4.80) for a narrow but impressive win in the Organ Coaches 0-58 Handicap (1850m).
The five-year-old daughter of Monaco Consul and Blessed Mary was ridden by regular rider Craig Robertson in defeating Miss Danni ($3.10 favourite) and the Neil Dyer-trained Bentley Tycoon ($3.60).
Owned by the Robinson family and a consistent mare of late, Monaco Countess has now won three races with four minor placings from 19 starts.
Augustus rules
Highlight of Kyneton’s seven-race card was Brad Rawiller’s riding treble, including the Darren Weir-trained Imperator Augustus ($4.40) in the $27,000 Massey Ferguson Woodend Cup (1850m).
The five-year-old Roman Emperor gelding defeated Vungers ($5) and the Luke Oliver-trained Bernie Boy ($14).
The gelding has now won four races with six second placings from his 20 starts.
Daniel Stackhouse rode two winners on the program.
Omen gets up … almost
With a snake sighted by staff in the owners’ and trainers’ bar prior to the first race at bet365 Park Kilmore last Thursday, punters pinned their hopes on the omen bet in the first.
Backed in to favouritism ($4.80-$4), the Jody Thompson-trained Snake Cavern led for most of the 1912 metres of the bet365 Maiden Plate but was run down in the straight to be narrowly defeated by Don’t Dismiss ($5).
The Golden Snake six-year-old did best of the locals on the eight-race card.
Stars of the program were leading city riders Luke Nolen and Damien Oliver, who rode a treble and double respectively.
Nolen’s second winner came aboard the impressive Linc Sullivan-trained Geneva Diva ($4.40) in the McIvor Estate 3YO Fillies Maiden Plate (1112m). 
The Hard Spun filly defeated the Darren Weir-trained Kaiken ($4.40) by 3¼ lengths with the $1.90 favourite La Chica Rosa, trained by Chris Waller, a further length away third.
The first of Oliver’s winners was the Mick Price-trained Cry If I Want To ($4) in the Kingsgate Village BM64 Handicap (1913m).
It was a special thrill for the Street Cry mare’s strapper, Libby Bevin, as she was celebrating her birthday on the day — the only tears were those of joy.
Coming attractions
The next turf meeting at bet365 Park Kilmore is next Thursday, February 15, with the next fixture at bet365 Park Kyneton the following Wednesday, February 21.