Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
The decision by veteran trainer Kevin Keys and Mark Glendenning to purchase Snookantite, a filly by American stallion Walton Hanover, as a yearling, did not pay any early dividends when Keys trained and drove her in her most unmemorable career of nine races in 1999 and 2000 for two third placings and stakes of $1290.
But she has certainly proved a valuable acquisition for Keys, producing smart performers Cassie Rox, Itsallabout Nicole and Kurious. All three were trained by Keys, with Cassie Rox earning $152,492 from 17 wins and 21 placings from 85 starts, Itsallabout Nicole having 65 starts for 13 wins, 18 placings and $189,570, and Kurious racing 47 times for five wins, 12 placings and $54,340.
Highlights included Cassie Rox’s win in the 2010 Northam Cup, and Itsallabout Nicole’s victory in the Group 1 Pearl in June 2009.
Mitch Miller drove Kurious once, at her second last start, when she finished fourth behind Sheez Edgy at Gloucester Park on November 1, 2016.
Kurious then was retired to the breeding barn and her first foal is four-year-old gelding Alcopony, who is by American sire Betting Line. Alcopony maintained his excellent form when Miller drove him to victory in the 1730m Media Guild Longest Priced Winner Hayden King Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night which improved his record to 30 starts for eight wins, nine placings and stakes of $63,537.
This gave the 74-year-old Keys his first metropolitan-class winner since Dominate The Dojo was successful in a 1730m event at Gloucester Park on May 18, 2019.
Acopony was the $2.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s $20,250 event, and, surprisingly, he was beaten for early speed by $126 outsider Heza Chance, who began brilliantly from out wide at barrier eight, and also by $19 chance Heza Head Honcho from barrier three.
But Miller quickly seized the initiative and sent Alcopony to the front after 450m. After opening quarters of 29.3sec. and 30.3sec., Alcopony dashed over the final 400m sections in 29.1sec. and 28.9sec. He just held on to win by a half-head at a 1.56.4 rate from $14 chance American Bullitt, who was seventh at the bell and finished with a brilliant burst.
“Alcopony is a slow learner,” explained Keys. “When he kicks away (from his rivals) he thinks the race is over. However, he will be a nice earner.”
Keys, who has two pacers in work, keeps himself busy by helping out at the Henley Brook stables of Mike Reed.