A fast-finishing Petrology has denied champion jockey Craig Williams a win in the annual Moonee Valley race named in honour of his late cousin.

Williams rode the Paul Preusker-trained Magic Consol ($11) in Saturday's Travis Harrison Cup and hit the front late in the 1600m race, only for five-year-old gelding Petrology ($26) to storm home wider out, with Cory Parish in the saddle to grab victory on the line by a short head.

Data Point, ridden by apprentice Beau Mertens, was third.

"He ran great," Williams said of Magic Consol.

"I'm just disappointed that I couldn't win Travis's race but he ran awesome.

"From his wide draw he ran his heart out."

Harrison died in a car accident on his way home to Cranbourne after birthday celebrations for a fellow apprentice jockey in 1996.

Petrology is likely to head to the Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington in July after registering his first win in more than a year.

Co-trainer Tom Dabernig said Petrology managed to get a good trail in the running line with cover on Saturday but still was not sure whether the gelding had won.

"Cory was strong on him to the line but I must admit I had to have a couple of looks as to whether he got there or not," Dabernig said.

Williams trails Mertens by one win in this season's Melbourne jockeys' premiership, with 11 city meetings remaining.

The pair started Saturday level on 63 wins but Mertens stuck his nose back in front after a win aboard Stylish Miss.