Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Handy five-year-old Alcopony broke through for an overdue victory when Ryan Warwick drove him to an all-the-way victory in the $31,000 Barbagallo Lamborghini WA Pacing Cup Consolation at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Bred and part-owned by Kevin Keys, Alcopony was a $6.80 chance from barrier two and he proved too strong for the two pacers who were generally expected to fight out the finish, Wildwest ($2.25) and Steel The Show ($2.50).
Warwick stole a march on the two fancied runners by resisting a strong challenge for the early lead from Steel The Show, who was smartest to begin from the No. 3 barrier but was unable to cross to the lead, and then was forced to work hard in the breeze.
After opening quarters of 30.6sec. and 30sec. Alcopony dashed over the final 800m in 55.6sec. to beat Steel The Show by one and a half lengths, with Wildwest 4m farther back in third place.
Alcopony, who rated 1.59.1 over the 2536m, ended a losing sequence of 18 and an 11-month losing drought. His win was not unexpected, coming after excellent placings behind Steel The Show, To Fast To Serious and Tricky Miki.
He has proved a good moneyspinner, with his 75 starts producing 13 wins, 27 placings and $271,593 in prizemoney.