THERE is plenty against Alcopop as he takes on the rest of the world in Sunday's Hong Kong Cup but Craig Williams believes he is ready for his grand final, reports The Age. It says: Days of steady rain have resulted in predictions for Sha Tin being on the slow side of dead, which doesn't suit the South Australian galloper, and he will have to go right-handed (clockwise) rather than the Melbourne way. ''He hasn't been this direction for a long time but he handled it perfectly and felt right at ho

THERE is plenty against Alcopop as he takes on the rest of the world in Sunday's Hong Kong Cup but Craig Williams believes he is ready for his grand final, reports The Age.

It says: Days of steady rain have resulted in predictions for Sha Tin being on the slow side of dead, which doesn't suit the South Australian galloper, and he will have to go right-handed (clockwise) rather than the Melbourne way.

''He hasn't been this direction for a long time but he handled it perfectly and felt right at home doing it - it was nice work [on Tuesday] and I'd say he's right where you'd want him to be,'' Williams told the South China Morning Post.

Alcopop earned his spot in Hong Kong by winning the Mackinnon Stakes on Derby day at Flemington after being runner-up in the Caulfield Stakes and Caulfield Cup. But the trip to racing's mecca was always in the plans of Victor Harbor trainer Jake Stephens.

''The encouraging thing is that this has not been an afterthought,'' Williams said. ''Jake had it in mind all along this campaign and trained him that way, but he was realistic and knew that Alcopop had to win a group 1 to get invited...The Mackinnon ticked that box and he's got the form line through Dunaden with the second in the Caulfield Cup, albeit in a handicap. But Australian horses have often come here after they've had their grand final at home and it doesn't work, you won't beat top horses which have targeted the race - but this is Alcopop's grand final and that gives me some confidence.''

Stephens's confidence has grown with every day Alcopop has spent in Hong Kong, but he is under no illusions about the task on Sunday.