The 8yr-old gelding settled at the rear of the field for jockey Kate Hercock, who sat patiently on her charge before finding a passage out wide when turning for home, and the son of Zacinto was able to gather in his rivals and score a head victory over Adanaya, much to the delight of Harris.
"He is an old horse, and he is as genuine as the day is long," Harris said.
"If you had four or five of them, you would give the rest away — he just tries.
"He is owned by an incredible group of people and I am just privileged and proud. I am pretty emotional about the win."
Harris is now hoping Goodanya can return to that stakes form when he heads to Riccarton next week to tackle the Group 3 Coupland’s Mile.
"We have had this horse for four years and I think I have placed him very well (this preparation)," he said.
"Just bring on the Coupland’s Mile. I know the mare of Te Akau’s (It’s Business Time) is pretty smart, but we will be right up its jacksy come race time.
"It is their horse’s (race) to lose and ours to win. I am really confident now.
"He needed that today and that will top him off nicely for the Coupland’s Mile."Winton trainer Sophie Price started Melbourne Cup Day at Wingatui with two straight maiden winners, Hugs in the first and Sacred Rose in the second.
Wingatui horsemen Brian and Shane Anderton celebrated victory with 3yr-old Ghibellines gelding Trader in a second start, and had Madam Dubai streak home for back-to-back wins in the final race of the day.
Special guest Jaylah Kennedy, the Victorian-based apprentice jockey making her competitive riding debut on her home track, could not quite pull off an emotional win in front of her family.
Her best effort was second on Nobellem, trained by father Terry, in the rating 75 over 1200m. — additional reporting Hayden Meikle
