Talented local stayer Alcopop is to begin his build-up to another crack at the two-mile Emirates Melbourne Cup with a race over just seven furlongs as he prepares to improve on last year's sixth place finish went sent off favourite for Australia's biggest sporting occassion, writes Elliot Slater.
The six-year-old son of 1994 Melbourne Cup winner Jeune proved one of the revelations of last season as he rapidly progressed through the ranks, winning the Balaklava Cup over a mile, the JRA Cup over a mile-and-a-quarter, and the Herbert Power Stakes over a mile-and-a-half. His burgeoning popularity saw punters plunge on the Jake Stephens-trained gelding who was eventually sent off the 15/4 favourite and held every chance 100yards out before being unable to quicken in the closing stages, in the race won by 9/1 shot Shocking.
Alcopop had been expected to make his seasonal bow earlier this month in the Spring Stakes but was found to have a mild infection and is now set to return to thee fray at Morphetville in the seven furlong Penny Stakes. The Sydney-based charge is then expected to move across to Melbourne where his training will be geared to take in the Caulfield Cup as well as the Melbourne Cup.
Running smart staying handicappers over seven furlongs might appear a curious tactic to those familiar with British racing, but the policy has been tried and tested over the years as local trainers endeavour to inject a finishing kick into their horses knowing that even at the end of the two-mile feature event horses must be able to quicken to land the spoils.
Alcopop, a 40/1 chance with most Melbourne Cup betting firms, is available at a tempting 47 on Betfair to improve on last season's fine effort.
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