ALTHOUGH John McCarthy moved to Queensland more than 10 years ago,he still calls himself a New South Welshman and with Washakie he provides the closest possibility of a home-town win in the Inter Dominion grand final at Menangle tomorrow.
The one disappointment of the star-studded line-up for the $1 million pace is the lack of NSW horses,but McCarthy puts himself firmly in the sky blue camp.
''I still go for NSW in State Of Origin,so I suppose Washakie could be the home-town horse,''he said.
The six-year-old got the home-ground draw coming up with gate one on Monday night and since then McCarthy's phone has run hot with people wanting to know who he will hand up the lead to. He had the same answer for all of them.
''I'm drawn to lead and that's what I intend to do,''McCarthy said.
''I don't think anyone would be asking that question if Blacks A Fake or Smoken Up drew the pole.
''You don't get these sort of draws in big races too often and I would be foolish not to use it in the biggest race of the year.''
Washakie moved into $4.50 with TAB Sportsbet after the draw,behind $2.50 favourite Monkey King and Blacks A Fake ($3.50) in betting.
McCarthy is confident going into the series that the horse,which ran sixth to Mr Feelgood in last year's final at the Gold Coast,is up with the main contenders.
Washakie had won two Grand Circuit races this season,although the Treuer Memorial at Bankstown and WA Pacing Cup in Perth don't have the profile of Monkey King's New Zealand Cup,New Zealand Free-For-All and Miracle Mile victories.