The recently acquired three-year-old gelding Boyd, saluted in style yesterday at Swan Hill on Cup Day, in Race 1 The Bottle 'O' Swan Hill Maiden Plate over the 975m sprint trip.

The speedy son of I Am Invincible was purchased online only a few weeks ago and had equipped itself well to the systems of STR being trained to run 1200m in order to be strong over the shorter trips to negate its tendency to be found wanting late in its previous assignments.

The script was to be forward early and find the front to play to its strengths, and that's what transpired; however, it was challenged in the lead by Induction, who didn't let Boyd get his own way. The race favourite, Scoobartie, was watching this unfold and had the drop on the leaders. Boyd had the better of Induction on the home turn and Scoobartie loomed large and looked to take over the race at the 200m mark but Boyd fought back and showed strength late to regain the lead and win the race in strong fashion.

This was a very pleasing result for owners, who are only weeks into ownership, some of which are new to STR. It was also a joyous day for STR, who shares a strong affinity with Swan Hill and finding success during the famous Swan Hill Carnival.

STR almost snared a double on the day with the stable warrior, the striking chestnut Fine Future, almost taking out the Swan Hill Cup. Kayla Crowther found the right lanes into the home straight and was coming with a well-executed run until Froggy came with a swooping run off its back with Cartoon Graveyard to claim it in the concluding stages. It was another bold effort for the stable star Fine Future, who keeps delivering consistent results for his connections, led by Jarred and Nathan Kersten at On Fire Racing.