Brilliant Return for Alligator Blood

Tara Madgwick - Saturday December 14

All Too Hard’s sensational three year-old Alligator Blood returned from a break at Eagle Farm on Saturday to score a dominant win in the Listed BRC Gold Edition Plate (1200m) cementing his place as a hot favourite for the $2million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas next month at the Gold Coast.

Alligator Blood was a stakes-winner in Melbourne during the spring - image Grant CourtneyThe David Vandyke trained gelding has been beaten only once going down by a nose to Super Seth in the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas and was having his first start since then.

Tuned up with a recent trial, he always looked comfortable for Ryan Maloney, travelling smoothly on the bit and then surging to the line to win by more than two lengths.

"I think that showed he is a better horse now. He was happy to sit off the pace and happy to be relaxed. He really came into the race quickly from the 600m to the 400m," Vandyke said.

"His pre-race behaviour has been the best it has been. So it was pleasing all around."

Vandyke indicated he may run Alligator Blood in the Group III Vo Rogue Plate (1400m) at Eagle Farm on December 28, but would make a decision on that in about 10 days time.

All Too Hard is the sire of Alligator Blood"But of course his main mission is the Magic Millions Guineas and he may not need another run. I will make up my mind after I gallop him the Tuesday before the Vo Rogue," Vandyke said.

"If I think he doesn't need another run he can go straight to the Millions."

A $55,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Baramul Stud draft for Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate, Alligator Blood has won six of seven starts and over $765,000 in prizemoney.

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Alligator Blood is the last foal of Lake Superior, who died in 2017. She was an unraced half-sister by Encosta de Lago to stakes-winner Cantonese from the family of Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy.

Alligator Blood is a real rising star for Vinery Stud based All Too Hard and is one of four stakes-winners for him this season.




 

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Race Result - Pages Gold Edition Plate LR 1200m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(3) Time: 1:09.39
1
Alligator Blood
- 3g All Too Hard (AUS) x Lake Superior (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: David Vandyke Rdr: Ryan Maloney 57
All Too Hard
2
2.3
Eleven Eleven
- 3g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Smokin' Alice (USA) (Smoke Glacken (USA))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: K S Latham 57
Fastnet Rock
3
3.8
The Odyssey
- 3c Better Than Ready (AUS) x Jessica's Hope (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: James Orman 57
4
3.9
Battle Strike
- 3c Shooting To Win (AUS) x Victory Cry (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: M Rodd 57
5
4.0
Karaja
- 3f Zoffany (IRE) x Cascada (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: Ron Stewart 55
6
4.1
Oh Five Glory
- 3f Unencumbered (AUS) x Distinctive Flyer (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: P & W Hulbert Rdr: L V Cassidy 55
7
5.2
Lubuk
- 3g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Bippo No Bungus (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: R Fradd 57
8
5.6
Le Palmier
- 3g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Imanoremiss (AUS) (Made Of Gold (USA))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: M Mc Gillivray 57
9
6.9
Shooting Love
- 3f Shooting To Win (AUS) x Exquisite Art (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M A Currie Rdr: Jake Bayliss 55
10
7.0
Raging Pole
- 3g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Touchy (AUS) (Untouchable (AUS))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: B Prebble 57
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