Impetuously has edged out kennelmate Cumulate in a thrilling finish to the $25,000-to-the-winner Sportsbet Emerald at Healesville today.
There was barely anything between the pair at the finish, with Impetuously getting the verdict by the smallest possible margin. The time must be mentioned too, a flying 16.26 over the 300m.
Adding another layer to the result, both greyhounds are trained by John Barbara and owned by Amanda Tullio, despite coming from different litters.
Cumulate attracted plenty of attention in the minutes before the race, heavily backed from as much as $7.50 into $3.30 and went desperately close to landing the plunge.
Instead it was Impetuously who claimed the feature, recording the 9th win of her career from just 17 starts and adding another feature race triumph to the growing list of successes for dominant sire Bernardo.
Odds on favourite Smart As You was under pressure early and forced to work hard throughout, but battled on gallantly to finish third.
The close finishes continued in the Emerald Consolation, where Electrojet prevailed for trainer Michelle Mallia.
Just half a length covered the first four across the line with Electrojet defeating Divot, Patriot Burst and Especial Kai in another blanket finish.
Earlier in the program, the popular Highway 31 Maiden Challenge final went the way of Midnight Tears for Moranding trainer Dean Philippe.
Midnight Tears, another daughter of Bernardo, defeated Aston Hopkins, with odds-on favourite Imagination finishing third.
