Alcopop's meteoric rise to Melbourne Cup contender has gone to another level after his win in the Group Two Herbert Power Handicap.Adelaide trainer Jake Stephens feared the five-year-old may have been too heavy to win his eighth race in only 11 starts but he could not have been more impressive racing clear in a time comparable to past Caulfield Cup winners.Alcopop was entered for the Caulfield Cup but Stephens felt the he could not run in that race as well as the Melbourne Cup and didn't pay up

Alcopop's meteoric rise to Melbourne Cup contender has gone to another level after his win in the Group Two Herbert Power Handicap.

Adelaide trainer Jake Stephens feared the five-year-old may have been too heavy to win his eighth race in only 11 starts but he could not have been more impressive racing clear in a time comparable to past Caulfield Cup winners.

Alcopop was entered for the Caulfield Cup but Stephens felt the he could not run in that race as well as the Melbourne Cup and didn't pay up for second declarations last month.

"That distance (2400m) would have been good for him but physically you have got to keep an eye on his muscles," Stephens said.

"He has got an astronomical power-to-weight ratio and while he is not a heavy horse he puts in 110 per cent.

"I just think running in the Caulfield Cup, he could have a gut buster and that could take the edge off him for a Melbourne Cup."

Stephens said he could not have wished for a better preparation for Alcopop who is unbeaten in four starts this campaign after winning a class three handicap at Morphettville and the Listed Balaklava Cup (1600m) and JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley before Saturday's 2400m win at Caulfield.

"It is exciting stuff," Stephens said. "Everything is falling into place.

"He has such a brilliant nature, is unflappable and so nice to have in the stable. He is an absolute cruiser.

"We do a lot of slow work with him and from his last run to this run I was worried with the extra weight he had put on.

"He was twelve kilograms heavier but I wanted to have something in the tank after this.

"I didn't want this to be his goal."

After missing the start nearly a length, Alcopop, ridden by Dom Tourneur, settled midfield but presented like an outstanding horse in the straight to win streaking away by 3-1/4 lengths from Shocking and Hissing Sid, who both needed to win to guarantee Caulfield Cup starts.

The Alcopop story would be a fairytale should he win the Melbourne Cup as Stephens bred him from Iota Of Luck, the first mare he ever owned, and educated him working cattle and as a polo horse.

When Alcopop won his first start as a four-year-old at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day last year Stephens dared to dream he could win the Cup,

"I took it as an omen," Stephens said.

"People had a joke about it but it is getting closer and closer."