Alcopop and Sea Siren ready for Hong Kong

27/11/2012 11:57

HK Sprint contender Sea Siren worked at Moonee Valley last Saturday while Cup challenger Alcopop had an exhibition gallop at Strathalbyn races in South Australia six days earlier.

The Jake Stephens-trained Alcopop may be an eight-year-old but, this season, has produced the best form of his career and developed something of a cult following as the first top line horse for his previously little known trainer who works his horses on the hills and beaches near his South Australian property.

Alcopop is part-owned, trained and was bred by Stephens, who has held a trainer’s licence for only six years and who’s worked as a cattle farmer and restaurateur near Victor Harbour in South Australia.

He bred Alcopop out of the first horse he had ever worked with – the moderately performed mare Iota Of Luck who won only two minor races at 1200m on small tracks in South Australia and Victoria.

Alcopop was second to the Cox Plate winner Ocean Park in the Caulfield Stakes before running Dunaden to a half length in the Caulfield Cup and winning the Mackinnon Stakes on 3 November. His trainer says Hong Kong was always an option but that he needed to win the Mackinnon to convince them that it was a worthwhile option.

“We’ve been considering it for a while. We had to innoculate him a while ago. They say it can flatten them for a bit, but there have been no problems with this horse.

“We kept him in training with Hong Kong in mind but I didn’t want to let everyone know too early because he had to win a Group 1 for us to go. It’s exciting stuff.

“The owners are thrilled. It’s one of those once in a lifetime opportunities to get him on the big stage like that (LONGINES HKIR),” said Stephens who added that he was “more than pleased”  with Alcopop’s exhibition gallop at Strathalbyn last Sunday.

Craig Williams partnered Alcopop to Mackinnon Stakes victory at his first ride on the gelding and the pair will maintain their association in Hong Kong. Williams will also ride Dunaden in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Meanwhile, John O’Shea remains enthusiastic about Sea Siren’s Spring prospects despite her defeat when second to Mental in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic.

“She worked beautifully and is at the top of her game,” O’Shea said after the filly’s gallop at Moonee Valley.

“It was a good hitout although she wasn’t asked to do a great deal. She’s had a great preparation and is fit and ready. The next two weeks will be crucial but I think she is the right sort of horse to take to Hong Kong,” he said.