| Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse has won her first Stradbroke Handicap and is celebrating her 150th career Group One win after Alligator Blood rolled back the clock with a stunning win in today’s Eagle Farm feature. |
| Waterhouse, who is now training in partnership with Adrian Bott, cheered home her recent stable addition from the United Kingdom where she is currently holidaying. Settling off the speed from an outside gate, Alligator Blood was able to spring home brilliantly under Tim Clark and score a length win over fellow Magic Millions graduate Private Eye. Clark said things turned out to plan during the race and he was impressed with Alligator Blood’s sprint when asked over the concluding stages. “He began well but as expected there was a fair bit of tempo and not only did I not have the horse to be in that speed battle, I knew if I attempted to be with them I’d have nothing left at the end,” Clark reported post-race. “So I was able to slide across back in behind them and it ended up working out lovely. I got on the back of Ayrton and that horse took me everywhere I needed to go.” “On straightening it was a matter of just being patient, letting him build through his gears and I thought all he has to do is find off the bridle.” “He showed a great turn of foot. I haven’t had a lot to do with the horse’s career but that was a pretty special performance.” “I rode him first up here and obviously he went terrific. I came up and worked him on Tuesday, he’s a pretty casual horse so he did as much as you’d expect him to do but with that run under the belt he had taken that bit of improvement.” “I was a bit dejected when he drew that barrier but it panned out beautiful for him.” “Great to ride another Group One winner for Gai and Adrian. Gai’s 150th and first Stradbroke. I’m sure they’d be stoked.” His win today is his second at the elite level following his win in the Group One Australian Guineas as a three-year-old. Alligator Blood was purchased by Allan Endresz’s Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate for $55,000 at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bred by Gerry Harvey and sold through the Baramul Stud draft. It was indeed an emotional win by the tenacious Alligator Blood. Endresz was unable to be on track at Eagle Farm today, staying at home in Albury with his wife Joy who is battling a terminal illness. Alligator Blood is one of four Group One winners by All Too Hard sold through the famous Magic Millions Gold Coast sales ring – the others being Behemoth, Forbidden Love and Hong Kong star Wellington. His dam, the Encosta de Lago mare Lake Superior, has produced two winners from just three runners – Sophie’s Choice is the other. Lake Superior is a daughter of the VRC Oaks placegetter Kylikwong (Red Ransom) and is a half sister to stakes winner Cantonese and stakes performers Chateau Margaux and Monteux. Kylikwong in turn is a daughter of Group One winner Tracy’s Element, making her a half sister to Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy. Winner: Alligator Blood Race: BRC Stradbroke Handicap G1 (1400m) Breeding: All Too Hard-Lake Superior (Encosta de Lago) Breeder: Mr G Harvey Sold for: $55,000 Sale: 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Baramul Stud Buyer: Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate Earnings: $2,792,250 Owners: Ezybonds No 1 (Mgr: AP Endresz) Trainer(s): Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (Randwick) |
