Alcopop scored his most significant win and survived a protest from mare Steel My Heart to claim the $70,000 feature by a short head, in just his eighth race start.

Inman Valley trainer Jake Stephens said he was excited with Alcopop’s win and the impressive record he is building.

“He has had eight starts for five wins and a second, he is only being lightly raced at the moment.

“He was bred to stay not to sprint, which means as he gets older he will get more sound and be able to do well over long distances,” he said.

Trained on the Fleurieu Peninsula, Alcopop is a son of 1994 Melbourne Cup winner Jeune.

The five year old gelding has been nominated for the major Caulfield and Melbourne Cups this spring.

“We do a lot of hill work in the paddocks and train the horses on the beach at Goolwa and Victor Harbor,” Mr Stephens said.

“When he gets over 2000 (metres) plus that will be when he gets into his own. He is really strong, and very good-natured. He is really chilled, but he thinks he is pretty good,” he added.

Alcopop will next run in Melbourne over 1800 or 2000 metres, and Mr Stephens said the win at Balaklava had sparked interest from around the country.

“We have had some interest from interstate, but it’s not very often you get a really good horse and he has grown up here, we bred him so we won’t be letting him go at this stage,” he said.