Skip to Content

RIP Alcopop – a South Australian superstar

One of South Australia’s most popular gallopers, Alcopop, has died.

The Group 1 winner who took his trainer Jake Stephens and connections on a fairy-tale ride, succumbed to illness issues that had plagued him in recent months – but part-owner John Kelton said it was ride they could never forget.

“To be a horse bred here in SA to then starting as short as he did in a Melbourne Cup was quite amazing,” Kelton said.

“He was an amazing horse.”

Alcopop started his career winning at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day in 2008.

But it was his 2009 campaign that captured the imagination of the Australian racing public.

He won at Morphettville in August, then claimed the Balaklava Cup, JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield, before jumping a $4.80 favourite in the Melbourne Cup and finished sixth behind Shocking.

He returned to Melbourne the following year and chased home So You Think in a Caulfield Stakes before making a return to the winners’ stall in 2011, capturing the Kilmore Cup and then Penny Edition Stakes at Morphettville later that year.

And he went heartbreakingly close to winning the 2012 Caulfield Cup, being narrowly beaten by superstar European Dunaden.

“That was one of the most amazing race days I have been involved in,” Kelton said.

“To come so close to winning a race like the Caulfield Cup was a huge buzz.”

His breakthrough Group 1 came in 2012, winning the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington with Craig Williams in the saddle before his amazing journey took connections to Hong Kong where he ran third behind Californian Memory in the $2.77m Hong Kong Cup.

“I think one of the things that stands out the most was his ability to keep racing at that level over a number of years,” Kelton said.

“He kept taking us back to the Melbourne Spring Carnival and amazingly he almost got better each year.

“His eight-year-old season was brilliant. Each time he raced he just got that bit better and then to win the Mackinnon and be invited overseas was something we’ll never forget.

“And his run in Hong Kong was unbelievable to get as close as he did coming from last to run third.”

Kelton said it was a sad time for everyone involved, especially Stephens, who had such a bond with the horse and sums up their journey together perfectly on his website.

“It is incredibly hard to put into words how all involved feel about this horse,” Stephens says.

“He has given us so much: the thrill of a lifetime, the privilege to be involved in the career of a top line racehorse, so many memories of victories and celebrations with family and friends.”

Alcopop’s post racing career was spent roaming Stephens’ Inman Valley property nurturing the next generation of horses.

He won 10 of 34 starts, banking $1.967 million in prizemoney.

Post categories

Racing SA - Racing Racing SA - Stories Racing SA - Latest News