By Mathew Toogood

SYDNEY, Aug 25 AAP - Last year's beaten Melbourne Cup favourite Alcopop pleased in a beach workout on Wednesday and is set to make a belated return in Saturday's Penny Edition Stakes.

Alcopop missed his scheduled first-up run in the Spring Stakes earlier this month when a scope on the Tuesday before the race revealed some mucous in his trachea.

Trainer Jake Stephens says the gelding is back on track to kick off his campaign in the Listed weight-for-age Penny Edition over 1400m at Morphettville.

Stephens worked Alcopop over 1200m in even time at Goolwa Beach on Wednesday, with his final 600m run at "a pretty strong gallop".

"It was a good hitout, I was pleased with that," Stephens said.

The six-year-old was one of the stories of last year's spring carnival winning three consecutive stakes races - the Balaklava Cup (1600m), JRA Cup (2040m) and Herbert Power (2400m) - before finishing sixth as favourite in the Melbourne Cup (3200m).

His autumn campaign, on the other hand, didn't go to plan with a virus hampering his Sydney preparation.

He finished 10th in the Apollo Stakes and last in the Ranvet Stakes at his only two starts.

Stephens has had Alcopop back in work since the beginning of June preparing for another tilt at the Melbourne spring carnival and he is currently rated a $21 chance for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Jockey Dom Tourneur will continue his association with Alcopop in the Penny Edition.

"The 1400 metres is nowhere near his peak distance," Stephens said.

"He's been competitive over the trip before though and I want to see him do something, especially after the Sydney campaign."

The Penny Edition is expected to be Alcopop's only start in his home state this preparation with Stephens to shift the focus to feature races in Melbourne should all go to plan.