Alligator Blood Goes Coast to Coast in Champions Mile

Mark Smith - Saturday November 5

Few horses overcome the adversity faced by Alligator Blood, who rarely gives anything other than his best, with his big heart carrying him to victory in Saturday's $3,000,000 Group 1 Kennedy Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.

Catch me if you can - they couldn't (image Grant Courtney)

Catch me if you can - they couldn't (image Grant Courtney)

Taking up his favoured front-running role by Tim Clark, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding was not for catching.

The 6-year-old son of all Too Hard defeated the Kermadec gelding Tuvalu by a half-length with three-quarters of a length back to the admirable Mr Brightside (Bullbars) three-quarters of a length back in third.

With his fourth Group 1 triumph, Alligator Blood advances his record to twelve wins, four seconds, and a third from 26 starts with earnings of $4,615,584.

Gai Waterhouse said the son of All Too Hard may be given his chance to land a second All-Star Mile.

"Absolute relief. He won at Sandown, beating so many of the horses that he was up against today, and Adrian was adamant about the mile, and so was Gerry and I bow to their superior knowledge because they were completely right," Gai Waterhouse admitted.

"Tim was able to use his speed from the gates, he stuck to the fence, and it was 'see you later Alligator'.

"I know Adrian will get huge satisfaction, Gerry (Harvey, owner) will be looking at the dollars and cents.

Fourth time in the Group 1 winners circle (image Grant Courtney)

Fourth time in the Group 1 winners circle (image Grant Courtney)

"I told him we'd give him both today, not only give him the dollars and cents, but we'd give him the trophy as well.

"It’s a wonderful thing. This horse has gone through a lot with his back injury, he’s come through it, he’s racing in superb fashion and today he just showed he was the best of the best.”

“He’s been in the best weight-for-age race, which is of course the Cox Plate, now to this which is probably his better distance. It was fabulous.”

Tim Clark said the drop back in distance proved the deciding factor.

He was well set up coming back from the 2000m, he is at the back end of a really tough campaign and full credit to Gai and Adrian and Bec and Dave, the staff down here, they’ve kept him up that extra couple of weeks and looked after him,” Clark said.

What a rippa he is (image Grant Courtney)

What a rippa he is (image Grant Courtney)

“He’s just had a wonderful prep the whole way through and he’s never let us down, really.

“It’s great to see him get another Group 1 on the board… he wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s as tough as they come and obviously didn’t have Zaaki on speed with him but he still was able to flow nicely and importantly he relaxed really well to give a good, strong kick.

“What a wonderful job and can’t thank Gai and Adrian enough.”

Bred by and now carrying the colours of Gerry Harvey, Alligator Blood sold for $55,000 to Allan Endresz's Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He is the last foal of Lake Superior, an unraced half-sister by Encosta de Lago to stakes-winner Cantonese from the Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy family.

 

Race Result - Kennedy Champions Mile Gr1 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:35.63
1
Alligator Blood
- 6g All Too Hard (AUS) x Lake Superior (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 59
2
0.5
Tuvalu
- 5g Kermadec (NZ) x Hangin' Tough (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Jarrod Fry 59
3
1.3
Mr Brightside
- 5g Bullbars (AUS) x Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 59
4
1.4
Aegon
- 5g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Toss Up (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Jamie Kah 59
5
1.7
Cascadian
- 8g New Approach (IRE) x Falls Of Lora (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 59
6
1.8
My Oberon
- 6g Dubawi (IRE) x My Titania (IRE) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: John Allen 59
7
2.1
Private Eye
- 5g Al Maher (AUS) x Confidential Queen (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Avdulla 59
8
4.4
Sinawann
- 6h Kingman (GB) x Simawa (IRE) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Melham 59
9
5.1
Dalasan
- 6h Dalakhani (IRE) x Khandallah (AUS) (Kitten's Joy (USA))
Tnr: L Macdonald & A Gluyas Rdr: M J Dee 59
10
5.2
Kolding
- 7g Ocean Park (NZ) x Magic Star (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: D Oliver 59
11
8.0
Kiss Sum
- 4g Shamus Award (AUS) x Stolen Kisses (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: T J Bartley Rdr: N Rawiller 59
More Reading...
Silver Slipper Looks Gold - 4 of Top 7 To Clash
The fields are out for Saturday’s Rosehill card and the Silver Slipper has produced a salivating line up where we’ll see the next run of boom Wootton Bassett colt Wodeton in a race which includes four of the top seven in the Golden Slipper market.
Entries Open For 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series
The 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series – the most lucrative weanling sales series in the Southern Hemisphere – is now open for entries.
Sydney 2YO Wednesday - High Prices and 1st Season Sires
The two year-old race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday is an interesting, and seemingly open, one which sees the second highest priced Farnan yearling of 2024 entered, along with the third highest priced I Am Invincible along with several other first season sire debutants.
Seventh Group 1 for Alligator Blood
He is a freak, returning from what appeared to be a career-ending injury in 2020; Alligator Blood struck for the seventh time at the highest level in Saturday's $1,000,000 Neds Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
Alligator Blood Goes Back-to-Back in Underwood Stakes
Seven days after finishing second to the unstoppable Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva Stakes, courageous All Too Hard gelding Alligator Blood scored an emotional win under Damien Oliver in the $750,000 Group 1 Live Life Foundation Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
'Bring on The Cox Plate' - Alligator Blood All Heart in Underwood
They don't come any braver than Alligator Blood, and when gifted a soft lead, few can match him.
Racing Australia Invests In Study Into Early Detection Of Injury Risk
Racing Australia’s Research and Development Fund today announced in conjunction with the Equine Genetics Research Centre (EGRC) and Telemedvet, a combined investment of over $400,000 into a 12-month project to perform a cross-sectional study of a serum biomarker in the clinical investigation of equine musculoskeletal injuries.
What a Warrior! - Alligator Blood Triumphs in Futurity
It appeared that Alligator Blood was on the downward slide as 2021 drew to a close, but the son of All Too Hard has found a new lease of life under the training of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Yulong Acquire Australian Guineas Favourite
Yulong have announced they have acquired ruling Australian Guineas favourite Angel Capital.
Alligator Blood Back To Best in Stradbroke
Alligator Blood's rehabilitation is complete after All Too Hard's top-class son powered his way to victory in Saturday's $1,500,000 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.