The six-year-old gelding led for much of the race and managed to hold off fast-finishing Something to Share to claim its third career win.

The scratching of international horses Darabad and Instrumentalist prior to the race reduced the field from nine to seven.

No Fairy raced across the field from the outside gate in order to set a fast pace early as Lewis German was happy to settle Manhattan Menage behind it.

As the pace dropped off, German made his move out of the first turn in order to lead the way for the rest of the race.

Coming into the final turn, Manhattan Menage had maintained its lead by a length from Magicool but it was 2015 cup winner Something to Share who provided the biggest threat heading towards the post.

The 10-year-old gelding, trained by Stawell’s Dane Smith and ridden by Horsham’s Holly McKechnie, came home with a head of steam from the middle of the pack.

The late run was not enough to prevent the horse that started with the longest odds in the field from claiming the $20,000 race.

Pre-race favourite Shamkiyr passed the post in third position after leaving its run too late.​

The second-place finish was McKechnie’s fourth placing of the St Arnaud meet.

She won race the 1200-metre Landmark BM52 Handicap on Aracadian after starting the day with a third-placed finish riding Jimmie Jim in the 2000-metre Goldacres Maiden Plate. In the Bet365 BM58 Handicap the jockey came home second on the back of Doubtless Road.

St Arnaud Turf Club manager Penny Penfold said good weather made for good numbers trackside.

“We had about 2000 people through the gate, which is always great,” she said.

“It was quite a contrast to last year when we had some really poor weather. Really the weather couldn’t have been much better on Saturday.”

Penfold said there were plenty of highlights during the day as things ran smoothly on and off the track.

“The fashions on the field was of a really high standard,” she said.  “Another things that had the crowd’s attention was the kids’ brumby race.  “The kids dressed up as brumbies and raced down the main straight through a few obstacles, which was really fun.”

The Golden Oldies winning post marquee was a success in its first year.  “That will be named after the previous year’s winner at each Cup meet,” Penfold said.