| Crowd favourite Alligator Blood showed he was on track for next month’s WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley with a courageous back to back win in today’s Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield. |
| The evergreen top class performer, now a seven-year-old, notched his sixth Group One success with today’s impressive length success over Tuvalu and co. Backing up after a fighting second in last Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes, Alligator Blood lacked early speed, but delivered when called upon in the straight by rider Damien Oliver. Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse was not surprisingly beaming in the winning enclosure and she was delighted to have teamed up with the soon to be retired champion jockey for another big win. “He’s not going to go out without a bang, is he,” she said of Oliver. “He’ll be like Frankie Dettori.” “It was a fabulous win today. He got into a bit of a scrimmage in the first two furlongs, got shuffled back to fifth, had to come three wide and then he got into that lovely rhythm that he’s got, a great stride. He was fabulous.” “I think going up in distance there was less pressure on and he could get into that rhythm that he is very good at.” “It’s great that there are so many people here to see Alligator Blood and it’s great that he could deliver. It’s so exciting for everyone.” Waterhouse has her mind now firmly set on the WS Cox Plate – the main decision is now which way they head next. “I will speak to Adrian. We may go to the Turnbull, but we’ll wait and see. Today we backed him up as it gave us a few more options, but that is exactly where we want to be, Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day.” Today’s win with Alligator Blood provided champion rider Damien Oliver with his 129th win at racing’s elite level as he prepares to retire at the end of 2023. “You never know if that opportunity is going to come,” Oliver noted. “It was unfortunate Tim’s accident and the fall, but he is on the road to recovery now and I was able to pick up this horse and I’m happy to just fill in for him while he’s making his way back.” Plans for Alligator Blood to lead were out the window early when the evergreen performer lacked his usual early zip. “She was adamant she wanted him to lead. I just felt, on his back today, he was a bit quieter on the seven day back-up and he wasn’t as sharp from the gates today.” “There were a few others a bit quicker and they crossed him pretty sharply. I had to wait and hold my nerve a little bit until they settled and then I was able to go outside the lead.” “It was a great effort from a horse that is tough and resilient over a long period of time. He’s had some injuries to overcome and he showed a lot of fight when the leader took a fair bit of sprint out of them. We had to take it up a fair way out and he held them off quite strongly.” Oliver is confident Alligator Blood will run boldly when he gets to the Cox Plate later next month. “He’s proven all along that he is right up there with them and you can never underestimate him. He’s such a tough, consistent horse and you know whatever he runs in, he’’ going to give you his best.” One of four multiple Group One winners by All Too Hard that was sold as a yearling by Magic Millions, Alligator Blood has sent his earnings spiralling close to $7 million. The star galloper was a $55,000 purchase from the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Bred, and now part owned, by Baramul Stud’s Gerry Harvey, Alligator Blood is one of two winners produced by the Encosta de Lago mare Lake Superior. Unraced, Lake Superior is a daughter of VRC Oaks placegetter Kylikwong and is therefore a half sister to stakes winner Cantonese and the stakes placed duo, Chateau Margaux and Monteux. Alligator Blood’s third dam is former champion South African based racemare Tracy’s Element – the dam of Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy. The Underwood Stakes win of Alligator Blood capped a memorable day for Magic Millions sold runners following Militarize’s stunning Group One Golden Rose Stakes win and feature wins for the likes of Espiona (Golden Pendant) and the unbeaten Ozzmosis (Heritage Stakes). Winner: Alligator Blood Breeding: All Too Hard-Lake Superior (Encosta de Lago) Breeder: Mr G Harvey Race: MRC Underwood Stakes G1 (1800m) Sold for: $55,000 Sale: 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Baramul Stud Buyer: Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate Earnings: $6,875,925 Owners: G Harvey, Mrs R Simpson & JA Simpson Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (Flemington) |
