Trainer Jake Stephens with Alcopop.
BALLARAT is again being used as a base for Caulfield Cup hope Alcopop.
The South Australia galloper has boarded at Dan O’Sullivan’s stables for the past week, arriving shortly before his eye-catching second in last weekend’s Group 1 Caulfield Stakes, 2000m.
O’Sullivan and Terry Kelly yards have been used as stopovers in past Melbourne invasions.
“With a horse like him, you want to be out from the city because he is from the country. It is a bit more open up here,” Victor Harbor trainer Jake Stephens, who is also staying in Ballarat, said yesterday.
“It is easier to take them from the city to the country, but not easy to take them from the country to the city.”
Stephens oozed confidence when asked about his gelding’s chances in this Saturday’s $2.5million Caulfield Cup, 2400m.
“Definitely. We wouldn’t be running him otherwise. I reckon he is well and truly up to it,” Stephens said.
“He’s pulled up really well from the last run and is backing up like it will hopefully be no problem.
“He seems sound, muscle-wise he’s good, he’s looking happy and eating well.”
Alcopop, who finished sixth when well fancied in the 2009 Melbourne Cup, is having his second crack at the Caulfield Cup after running 11th in 2010.
The son of Jeune has raced 31 times for nine wins – five at group or listed level – and has won more than $700,000 in prizemoney.