Spring racing officially kicks off in the Wimmera on Saturday when Murtoa hosts its cup meeting. 
The 2050-metre headline act carries prizemoney of $60,000 plus all the VOBIS bells and whistles on top, and if this instalment is anything like last year’s, we’re in for a treat. 
Twelve months ago Liam Howley’s country cups stalwart Station One led and fought on bravely to hold off Picaroon in a two-horse war to the line, the Tom Dabernig camp having no hesitation in sending the result to the stewards’ room for investigation. 
After a lengthy hearing, Station One was declared the winner and followers of this column were left scratching their heads. (We have long memories!)
The other feature event on Saturday’s Murtoa program is a heat of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series, worth $80,000, with the first two horses past the post booking a place in the $500,000 final at Flemington on Oaks Day. 
Tread carefully with the form, however — last year’s qualifiers went on to finish 13th and 16th in the final.
Commander in first-up cup coup
Horsham trainer Paul Preusker has started the country cups season brightly, securing last Friday’s Coleraine Cup with outsider Commander Harry ($21). 
In a terrific training performance, Preusker had his seven-year-old gelding up to the mark at his first start since March, watching on as he swamped a tiring field from last to grab the prize right at the end of the 1800-metre contest. 
Stablemate Chairman ($16) looked a chance in the dying stages but had to settle for third in an excellent result for the McKenzie Creek operation. 
Looking ahead, stable stars Steparty and Torranzino travel the Western Highway to Flemington this weekend in search of metropolitan riches. 
Steparty takes on the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes following a sound first-up effort in the Bobbie Lewis three weeks ago, while Torranzino gets out to 2500 metres for the first time when he meets a quality line-up in the Group 3 Bart Cummings.