Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Veteran trainer Kevin Keys is in high spirits after preparing three runners this week for wins at Kellerberrin with Mister Linton on Sunday and Flying Rumour at Gloucester Park on Tuesday and a second placing with 100/1 outsider Maddys Nino at Pinjarra on Monday.
He is confident that Alcopony, his sole runner at Gloucester Park on Friday night, will give him another success by winning the $22,000 Sky Channel Pace — and end his bountiful week on a high note.
Four-year-old Alcopony is the youngest runner in the field of seven and is perfectly drawn at barrier No. 1. He will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr, who takes over from the WA-bred gelding’s regular driver Emily Suvaljko, who is enjoying a holiday trip to South Africa.
Alcopony notched his tenth win from 40 starts when he trailed the pacemaker Getn Wiggy Withit and finished powerfully to score a two-length victory over Goodfellaz last Friday week.
“I couldn’t have been more happy with him when he won,” said Keys. “And he has trained on well since. All going well, I’d like him to lead, and I expect him to go very well in a good field.”
Alcopony’s six rivals are in good form, with champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond holding a strong hand with Jett Star and Roll Up. American Bullitt is also racing in fine style for trainer Sonia Zucchiatti, with a win and two seconds from his past three outings. Wait For The Bell and Simply Shaz are also in excellent form and are capable of strong efforts.
Jett Star, to be driven by Deni Roberts, looms as Alcopony’s most serious opponent, even from the outside barrier. He followed strong seconds behind El Chema and Goodfellaz with an all-the way victory over Faster Than Dad and The Code Breaker last Friday week.
Goodfellaz is one of four starters in the $50,000 APG WA final for four-year-olds, in which the brilliant mare Wonderful To Fly should carry too many guns for her three gelding rivals. Wonderful To Fly, a winner of 23 races from 39 starts for earnings of $453,755, will begin from the No. 1 barrier and Shane Young should guide her to an all-the-way success.