Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey has high hopes that his veteran pacer Mea Culpa retains his perfect record from barrier No. 1 when he starts from the inside in the 2130m Beau Rivage Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Mea Culpa, a former Victorian performer and a seasoned campaigner with his 102 starts producing 16 wins, 17 seconds and 15 thirds, has began from the No. 1 barrier twice at his 25 WA starts for all-the-way wins over 2130m — beating Jett Star at a 1.56.7 rate and a final 800m in 56.6sec. on March 3 this year, and then beating The Code Breaker over 2130m on May 12, rating 1.57.6, with a final 800m of 56.5sec.
“He is going well, and the plan will be to lead,” said Turvey. “He was unlucky last Friday night when he was held up and finished fifth behind The Code Breaker.” A victory by Mea Culpa would give Turvey three wins in a row, following Rocknroll Sass scoring at Pinjarra on Monday and Chal Patch winning at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night.
Kyle Harper, one of the State’s most astute frontrunning drivers, will be determined to make every post a winner by rating Mea Culpa to perfection in the lead.
Mea Culpa’s chief rivals are expected to be Kimble, Onesmartfella and Floewriter.
Kimble, a winner at eleven of his 52 starts, will be having his first start for Coolup trainer Michael George. An easy all-the-way last-start winner for trainer Michael Young, Kimble faces a stern test from out wide at barrier seven.
But he must come under serious consideration following his splendid performance in finishing second to Finvarra in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week when he was fifth on the pegs in the field of six and six lengths behind the frontrunning Finvarra at the bell.
Kimble sprinted strongly to get within a head of Finvarra 400m from the finish, before fighting on gamely to be beaten by a length after final quarters of 29.7sec. and 28.4sec.
“His trial was outstanding,” said George. And Gary Hall Jnr has given punters a strong lead by opting to drive Kimble ahead of Master Publisher and Henrik Larsson.
Hall has an outstanding book of drives at the meeting, with strong winning prospects with Watching Our Coin (race one), The Mustang (race three), Finvarra (race four), Acharne Girl (race five), Faster Than Dad (race six), Velocipede (race eight), Dekla Dive (race ten) and Bromwich (race eleven).
Kyle Symington, fresh from a treble at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night, has been booked for eight drives, with his best prospects appearing to be Peligroso (race seven), Atlantic Gem (race ten), Tenzing Bromac (race three), Cheer The Major (race one) and Hillview Bondi (race six).
Peligroso, trained by Ryan Bell, is ideally drawn at barrier one in the 1730m Allwood Stud Farm Pace at his second appearance after 24-week absence. He resumed in style at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week when he began brilliantly from barrier five, set the pace and won easily from Apologize, rating 1.58.7 over 2130m.
“This is a nice draw and her should lead and be able to reel off some nice sectionals,” said Bell. “He looked like he was under pressure (in the last lap) when he won last week. We put plugs on him, and he fell asleep. But when Kyle pulled the plugs, he switched back on and did the job. Kyle said that his final 100m was really good, which is a good positive sign. We will probably take the plugs off this week to keep him on the bit.”