Racing: Washakie too good for Blacks A Fake

Washakie has a busy time ahead. Photo / Greg Bowker

Punters copped one of harness racing's greatest blood noses in recent years when former Kiwi pacer Washakie thrashed Aussie hero Blacks A Fake in the Trueur Memorial at Bankstown in New South Wales on Saturday night.

Washakie, formerly trained by Steven Reid, became just the second pacer after Our Sir Vancelot to win back-to-back Trueurs at the Sydney track but while he was second favourite the result was still a major upset to many.

Blacks A Fake, fresh from his second in the Australasian record Miracle Mile a week earlier, was backed into $1.40 but those who took the short odds were feeling sick a long way from home.

Washakie was able to jump to the lead after just 400m and then controlled the race, whereas Blacks A Fake settled last and encountered traffic problems when he tried to make his move.

That saw him forced four wide from the 500m, at which point Luke McCarthy on Washakie had already shot clear and he won without being tested, Blacks A Fake fighting his way into second over Vegas Bound.

The win pushes Washakie closer to the elite pacing millionaires club and he will get plenty of chances to cross that threshold in coming months as the son of Badlands Hanover is going to be a busy boy.

He will contest the Victoria Cup in 12 days, followed by a trip to Perth for the WA Cup.

After that, McCarthy could bring him back to Alexandra Park, where Washakie started his career, en route to the Interdominions at Addington starting on March 25.

Blacks A Fake's trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen will now take the champ home to Queensland before confirming a Victoria Cup bid.

If he does head that way he will clash with New Zealand Cup placegetter Sleepy Tripp, who is a surprise entry at Alexandra Park this Friday.

He looked sharp winning at the Alexandra Park workouts last Wednesday when he beat De Lovely but trainer Mark Purdon believes he needs another race before the Victoria Cup, so has nominated him for this Friday.

Purdon's open-class trotting star I Can Doosit will also race at Alexandra Park this Friday, while last season's champion filly the Ian Small-trained De Lovely returns.

The night also features the first clash between exceptional 3-year-old fillies Bettor Cover Lover and Carabella.