The seven-year-old gelding paced home by 10-and-half-metres to claim the Edna and Frank Day Memorial Cup, silverware that complements the Truer Memorial prize and WA Pacing Cup in the stable’s busy trophy cabinet.

A diverse crowd shelved the chocolate on Easter Sunday and instead converged on the Paceway for the city’s leg of the Carnival of Cups. While the attention of race-goers drifted from the sounds of Kerri O’Keefe on guitar and the moneymaking lure of the bookmakers’ circle, all eyes were directed at the track when Washakie showed his form.

The pre-race favourite did all that was expected of him on the track. The 33rd win of his career followed a familiar formula.

“I was hoping I could get to the front. He’s a pretty good little horse and I didn’t think many of them would want to hold him out,” trainer/driver Luke McCarthy said.

“When he’s on song, and I was really happy with his work leading into to this race, he’s good if you just let him roll even quarters. He broke the track record...I was really happy with him.”

McCarthy netted a $16,875 cheque from the win, along with an extra $3375 courtesy of Washakie’s stablemate and second-placed runner, internationally renowned filly Fleur De Lil. Lady Lexus, proclaimed prerace as NSW’s leading mare, finished third. Patriotic spectators couldn’t pin their hopes to a Goulburn-trained horse in the afternoon’s main event, although local stables enjoyed much success at the fixture.

The Days had a somewhat of a monopoly on the Goulburn First National three-year-old pace. Dennis Day’s outsider Whatnotifnot passed the post first, followed by the Neil Day driven Beach Boy Adios and Amy Day steered Treuative.

The father-and-daughter team of Neil and Amy drove away please with their efforts, however, thanks largely to victories in the Goulburn Mulwaree Council City Pace and the Soldiers Club Rose Pace.

Bigga’s Dennis Picker departed the Paceway $8000 richer than when he arrived. Two of Picker’s six starters, Sneaky Catch and Sailing Sovereign, won while the remaining four failed to run a place.

For the full story and list of winners, please see the print edition of the Goulburn Post, available from our Auburn Street office and from newsagencies across the region.