THE CUP - ALCOPOP, A FEEL-GOOD STORY

By Graham Potter | Monday, November 2, 2009

Part-time trainer Jake Stephens and the nine owners of Alcopop must have quite a few bruises between them at this stage. For the past few weeks they must have been pinching themselves expecting to wake up from a dream ride that has seen Alcopop take them from a Maiden win at Morphettville to a Melbourne Cup start at Flemington.

That Maiden win in fact came on debut on Melbourne Cup day last year. It was a sign of things to come, but if anyone at the time had predicted the path that would be followed over the next twelve months they would have laughed out of the argument.

But then again, Alcopop personifies what horseracing is all about.

A feel-good story where the underdog comes good is a big part of the attraction of the sport. Hoping to turn that possibility into a reality is why the average owner gets into the game and when that story comes true - when a battler bloodies the nose of the multi-million dollar racing heavyweights - it captures the public’s imagination and adds another chapter onto the rich history of racing in this country.

Some have said, what a story it would be if Alocopop, who has won seven of his ten starts, could go on to win the Cup. The truth is it is obviously already a super story. The talent of the horse has been complimented by a terrific training feat from Stephens, who has only been training for three years, and by a highly capable show in the saddle from Dominic Tourneur, who has paid his dues on the bush circuit. Tourneur has never even been to Flemington.

Credit Stephens too for following his own instinct with regards to the manner in which he has prepared Alcopop in the weeks leading up to the race. Whether the result goes his way or not, Stephens is easily the best placed to know what is good for his horse.

‘Experts’ have raised their eyebrows at the fact that Stephens has not followed any traditional route into the Cup since qualifying for the big race. While many of his rivals have been priming themselves for battle by gaining more match-practise and fine-tuning their physical toughness with runs right up to last Saturday, Alcopop has not raced since October 10.

Perhaps Stephens has worked out you can’t beat Bart Cummings doing what Bart Cummings does, bearing in mind the great man has a fifty-years more experience than Stephens ... but perhaps if you tried something different, something that will really suit your horse.

Alcopop is unbeaten in four starts this season and has taken each new, more difficult step with aplomb. He is currently vying for favouritism with the Bart Cummings trained Viewed who has run twice since Alcopop’s last outing. The $3 million plus first prize would be life-changing for his connections if Alcopop were to salute, but money is currently the last thing on their mind. They have already turned down big-money offers for the horse. You don’t get this far to hand over to somebody else.

For Alcopop too, life is about to change. The solitude of the rolling hills of the Stephens family farm property at Inman Valley and the quiet visits to the beach is about to be replaced by the rush and crush of Flemington Racecourse on Melbourne Cup day. There, Alcopop’s focus will be far removed from his time of mustering cattle or being used as a referee’s horse in a polo match. Things don’t get much bigger than this. A win would bring the house down.