Turcotte ($5.50) gave Mudgee trainer Cameron Crockett victory in a thrilling finish to the Tyers Park feature race, with his Sebring gelding fending off late challenges from Noel's Gift ($5.50), Supreme Polarity ($4 favourite) and Harry New Shoes ($10).

Pracey-Holmes was forced to deviate from his original plans in the $32,000 Class 4 race.

Turcotte, who normally prefers to lead his races, instead had to spend most of his time on Thursday sitting behind home-city hope Heeby Frenly, who was driving the field until the 200m.

It was a rails run to remember for Pracey-Holmes who was sweating on an opportunity to present itself down the length of the home straight.

"The plan was to never leave the rail because once you leave the rail he never goes forward, because he's always trying to get back to the rail," he said.

"We were sweating on the run but he got through. He's a bit of a thief. He put his head up to try and stop but when we got to the red paint I gave him a tap on the backside.

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"He can gallop, this horse, he's just a thinker."

Turcotte, starting from the inside barrier, initially found the lead but a hot early tempo from Heeby Frenly and Supreme Polarity forced Pracey-Holmes to duck back to third.

Noel's Gift drew up alongside Turcotte to settle in fourth.

Heeby Frenly, rated a $151 chance, battled on gamely into the home straight before the favourite Supreme Polarity pulled ahead on his outside.

Both of Gayna Williams' runners - Noel's Gift and Skin Deep - were also finishing strongly out wide while Turcotte was begin to break through on the rail.

Turcotte edged ahead over the last 100m but his job was far from done as Noel's Gift and Supreme Polarity hit back in the closing strides.

Crockett's contender hung on to win by a length over Noel's Gift and Supreme Polarity.

Harry New Shoes was the fast finisher in the field but ran out of racing room, finishing a further half length away.

"I think that's the first time he's ever won a race without leading," Pracey-Holmes said.

"When he gets behind other horses he normally gets things wrong, like he tried today. Cameron had him looking picture perfect. It was a big effort first up over the 1,400m.

"He told me the other day 'Jake, this horse is spot-on to win'. I trialled him four days ago and he trialled really nicely.

"I was in front today but we were already going quick and the two outside me wanted to push forward so I thought 'We're going too quick. My bloke's first up. Let's take a sit and whatever happens, happens'.

"Well, we won."

Paul Theobald's Heeby Frenly battled on to finish seventh on his home track.