Collie trainer Errol Ashcroft continues to produce Euphoric Moment in splendid condition week in and week out, and the five-year-old maintained his consistent form and ended a losing streak of 12 when Deni Roberts drove him to a thrilling victory over Vespa and Major Stare in a three-way photo finish to the 2130m Book Your Next Conference At Gloucester Park Pace on Friday night.
Euphoric Moment was fourth favourite at $7.50 from the prized No. 1 barrier, but he was beaten for early speed by $9.50 chance Pradason.
Trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo set his rivals a stern challenge with Pradason running a fast lead time of 36.1sec. followed by solid quarters of 28.2sec., 29.3sec. and 29.7sec.
Pradason was still in front on the home turn before he was swamped in the final stages by Euphoric Moment (who had trailed him throughout), the $5.50 chance Vespa (who charged home six wide) and Major Stare (a $23 chance who sustained a powerful three-wide burst from the rear). The final 400m was run in 30.5sec.
Euphoric Moment is by the American-bred former star pacer Mr Feelgood and is out of the Kinney Hanover mare Barleys Hope, who raced 59 times for six wins, 15 placings and $50,126 in prizemoney. Euphoric Moment has earned $126,209 from 13 wins and 30 placings from 94 starts.
by Ken Casellas