Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Noted frontrunner Mea Culpa was the $1.70 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier in the 2130m HTA Taking You To New Heights Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, but his supporters were concerned when $10 chance Alcopony began speedily from barrier five in a spirited bid for the early lead.
Alcopony, racing first-up and driven by Aiden De Campo, led by just over a half-length, but was unable to cross Mea Culpa. Then De Campo was able to angle Alcopony across to the pegs to trail the pacemaker.
Kyle Symington was then able to get Mea Culpa to relax and the gelding coasted through the opening quarter of the final mile in a leisurely 32sec. before running the following sections in 30sec., 28.1sec. and 27.5sec. to win by a length from the fast-finishing $7 chance Sheez Our Hope, with Alcopony a head away in third place. The winner rated 1.57.3.
Trainer Nathan Turvey admitted that he was not particularly worried that Mea Culpa was challenged hard in the early stages, saying: “He is pretty tough, and you probably want him on the bit because he’s pretty laid back. When they come at him, he finds. He got a good quarter after the early speed.”
Mea Culpa has had 29 starts in WA for Turvey for ten wins and eight placings, taking his career record to 106 starts for 18 wins, 33 placings and stakes of $169,786.
He is a six-year-old gelding by Art Major, who has inherited much of his ability from his maternal granddam Innocent Eyes, who earned $421,875 from her 18 wins and 17 placings from 62 starts.