| Star middle distance performer Alligator Blood showed he was on track for Australasia’s Weight-for-Age Championship next month with a brilliant win in today’s Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown. |
| In a small, but quality packed field Alligator Blood was able to lead throughout and after being eye balled for a sustained part of the race by Zaaki, he was able to kick clear late for a gutsy win. The $8 pop with bookies had three parts of a length to spare on the line from Mo’unga, while Zaaki was third, just ahead of race favourite I’m Thunderstruck. Today was the second Group One win from five starts for Alligator Blood since joining the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable following surgery for kissing spine. “He’s had a colourful career the horse,” Bott noted. “We feel privileged to be able to train the horse – particularly to Mr Harvey, to entrust us with him.” “I’m very proud of the horse to come out here today over the trip for the first time and to take on a quality field.” “The pressure was put onto him very early in the race and I loved the way that he responded and kept fighting – fantastic win.” Bott confirmed that the son of All Too Hard was well and truly on track for the Cox Plate. Alligator Blood was a $55,000 purchase for the Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and after today’s win his earnings have gone over $3.6 million. “It was a very courageous win,” winning rider Tim Clark said with an eye firmly on next month’s WS Cox Plate. “I said earlier in the week that aside from Anamoe, all of the other big guns were here. He’s proven himself over 1800 on a big roomy track like this.” “2040 (metres) at the Valley, bring it on,” Clark added with a smile. Part owner Jeff Simpson, who has been on the journey since the Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, was a proud man talking to Racing.com from the winner’s room. “He’s taken us on a wonderful ride,” an emotional Simpson said. “He’s amazing.” “To go through what he has, as far as the big back operation, and to come through that and be here today and do that – he’s an amazing horse.” “He loves the crowd, he loves doing what he’s doing,” Simpson added. “Gai and Adrian have done a great job with him to get him up where he is.” The triple Group One winner now carries the familiar blue and white colours of his breeder Gerry Harvey. The Baramul Stud owner recently purchased a majority share into his homebred to enable him to race across the Spring Carnival. The six-year-old has now notched 11 wins from just 23 starts for earnings of over $3.6 million. Alligator Blood is one of two winners produced by the unraced Encosta de Lago mare Lake Superior. Lake Superior, from the multiple Group One placegetter Kylikwong, is a half sister stakes performers Cantonese, Chateau Margaux and Monteux. Kylikwong in turn is a full sister to former Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy – both being progeny from the former South African champion mare Tracy’s Element. 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: $3,609,250 Owners: G Harvey, Mrs R Simpson & J A Simpson Trainer(s): Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (Flemington) |
