More Grand Circuit Glory; Washakie goes back-to-back in the Treuer Memorial Photo by Ross Stevenson
Washakie is a regular fixture on the Barastoc Grand Circuit stage.
And again, the pocket rocket pacer put his name up in the bright lights after a brilliant front-running victory in the Gr.1 $100,000 Bankstown Trotting Recreational Club M H Treuer Memorial tonight for father/son training and driving combination of John and Luke McCarthy.
The West Australian owned pacer made it back-to-back victories in the time honoured event after scoring in strong style last year.
Luke McCarthy wasted little time of gaining an early advantage from his front row draw over the raging favourite and fellow Queensland trained pacer Blacks A Fake who started from the outside of the second line.
Washakie eventually wrestled the lead away from Special Albert whilst the Victorian trained Our Malabar was forced to race without cover during a lead time of 70.7 seconds.
The pace remained constant with the first quarter of the final mile posted in 29 seconds before McCarthy eased slightly with the second quarter timed in 31 seconds.
Race favourite Blacks A Fake who settled towards the tail of the field found it difficult to improve his position with Rohan Home making a move in front of him before Saucy Legend popped out of his trail to follow up behind his stable-mate.
McCarthy drove confidently and headed off the back straight in 29.2 seconds whilst his rivals were left chasing.
In the straight, Washakie raced away for a commanding victory and stopped the clock with a last quarter timed in 28.2 seconds.
Blacks A Fake sustained a very wide run over the concluding stages and managed to finish fast for second whilst Vegas Bound caught the eye with a encouraging third placing.
The overall time for the 2540m event was 3.08.1 and the mile rate was 1.59.2.
The victory of Washakie provided McCarthy with his second Treuer Memorial success after scoring back in 2005 aboard Slipnslide.
“This is awesome, he's such a grouse little horse who is a little underrated,” McCarthy beamed.
“He tries so hard and he travelled so well in front and I always felt confident, he ran it out very well.” McCarthy added.
Washakie has now won four Grand Circuit events with success coming his way in the 2010 WA Cup, 2009 Australian Pacing Championship and the Treuer Memorial twice in consecutive years.
The Badlands Hanover gelding also possesses a great strike rate under the 'Team McCarthy' banner with 11 victories from 33 starts.
Washakie has now won 30 races overall whilst his career earnings now exceed $900,000.
Washakie is raced by Kevin Jeavons, Gino Monaco and Lindsay Severn.
Connections will target the next leg of the Barastoc Grand Circuit, the Gr.1 $425,000 SEW Eurodrive Victoria Cup at TABCORP Park, Melton on December 18.
