Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Promising New Zealand-bred four-year-old Euphoria, beaten into second place at four of his five previous starts, broke through for an overdue victory when he took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier and led all the way in the $18,000 Nova 93.7 Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His victory by just under two lengths from Zazu completed a double for trainer Gary Hall snr and reinsman Gary Hall jnr in the first two events on the program. The Halls combined to score a narrow victory in the opening event with Jumpingjackmac.
Euphoria gave his eleven rivals little hope by setting a brisk pace with quarters of 28.3sec., 29.7sec., 29.2sec. and 29.4sec. He rated 1.55.7 over the sprint trip.
Former Victorian performer Zau gave signs of better things to come when he began speedily from barrier four and worked hard in the breeze all the way. Veteran pacer Anvil Rollover also impressed in coming from tenth at the bell and finishing strongly, out four wide, over the final 300m to finish third.
Euphoria, hot favourite at $1.40, is by boom sire American Ideal and is the first foal out of the McArdle mare Bliss, who raced only twice for unplaced efforts in New Zealand in December 2013.
Euphoria managed only two seconds from eight starts in New Zealand before being sold to Beth Richardson, Karen Hall, Danny Roberts and Sue Beven. The gelding now has raced 21 times in WA for nine wins, seven seconds, two thirds and three unplaced efforts. He has earned $69,532 from nine wins and eleven placings from 29 starts.