Written by Gerard Guthrie, Greyhound Recorder.

A delighted John Barbara couldn’t believe his eyes when exciting youngster Impetuously handed the astute Victorian trainer the biggest win of his training career with a thrilling last stride victory in Friday night’s Group 2 Bendigo Cup final (425m).

Impetuously claimed back-to-back feature trophies, having come into the Bendigo Cup series after taking out the straight track Emerald final (300m) at Healesville, where she also scored by the barest margins over kennelmate Cumulate.

A daughter of Bernardo and Submission, bred and raced by Amanda Tullio, Impetuously was the fastest qualifier for the Cup final but looked to have blown her chances when she was last out of the boxes.

Front-runner Daddy Cool ($5.50) appeared to have the $50,000 winner’s purse in his keeping but Impetuously ($5) knuckled down to arrive in the final bound, scoring by a nose in 23.71, with kennelmate Cumulate ($5.30) finishing a close and unlucky fourth.

Favourite Sparring ($4.30) ran third, with veteran kennelmate Matt Loch ($9) unable to snare a fairytale fourth country cup title.

“When Impetuously missed the start, I was watching Cumulate, and then I saw her coming and he was dropping back,” John Barbara explained.

“I just watched the replay and the pink jumped on Cumulate’s back leg.

“I don’t know if he would’ve won but he would’ve run second.

“The leader (Daddy Cool) looked like he was home but she’s got a will to win and just keeps chasing. It was a massive run.

“It’s my biggest win. I’ve won a few $28,000 finals but haven’t won a 50 grand race before.

“I’ve been coming up here for 40 years, since I was a kid, and been in four of them (Bendigo Cups), so it’s good to finally win one.”

Impetuously doesn’t turn two until November but passed the biggest test of her career in memorable fashion, securing her fourth straight win and improving her record to 10 wins from 18 starts.

It was a case of fourth time lucky in the Bendigo Cup for Barbara, having contested three previous finals without success, most recently running fourth with Mav Reiko in 2025.

Having won a straight track feature, followed by a country cup final, Impetuously’s remarkable versatility could be on display at Sandown Park on Monday night over 515m.

“We’ll wait and see how she pulls up after tonight,” said Barbara.

“She’s won at The Meadows before and she was a bit unlucky at Sandown and the way she’s racing she wants 500 metres.

“She’s still only a baby. She doesn’t turn two until next month.

“The more racing she’s had, the more she’s improved. She’s starting to learn what it’s all about.

“She’s a good girl!”

Impetuously’s Cup triumph capped a fantastic week for Barbara, with six of his last seven runners scoring.