Superstar Alligator Blood clinched his seventh Gr1 success and showed he is on track for the Cox Plate with a dashing win in Saturday’s Might and Power Stakes at Caulfield.
Alligator Blood wins his 7th Gr1 in the Might and Power Stakes at Caulfield (Pic – Magicmillions)
Second for much of the race, Alligator Blood swept on the lead at the top of the straight before dashing clear in the straight and holding out his rivals for a comprehensive success.
A drifting second favourite, Alligator Blood made it back to back Gr1 wins for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable following his brilliant last start success in the Underwood Stakes.
“He just did it so easily,” a beaming co-trainer Gai Waterhouse said moments after the win. “He’s joyous. The horse in front, Deny Knowledge, made it a bit more of a tempo and Alligator just said ‘see ya later, alligator’.”
“This is his fourth or fifth group one for us. He’s so tough, he’s so special. He’s an elite racehorse and we’re very privileged to see a horse like him,” Waterhouse added.
A 15-time winner from just 33 starts, Alligator Blood is now the earner of over A$7.48 million – now bad considering he was an A$55,000 purchase at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The win continued the dream partnership between Alligator Blood and jockey Tim Clark. The two reunited after Damien Oliver had warmed the saddle earlier this spring after Clark was injured.
“It’s unreal,” Clark said. “What he has done for me and my family over the last twelve or 18 months, he’s been a wonderful horse and obviously I was disappointed I wasn’t able to ride him up until now but I’m grateful to Gai and Adrian to give me the opportunity to get back on him.”
“All the staff here and back home, they’ve prepped him up so well and these horses, they don’t come along very often and a seven-time group one winner – five at weight-for-age, he’s a real star and showed that he could run a strong 2000 today.”
Clark said he was happy being able to track the runaway early leader Deny Knowledge during the weight-for-age event.
“Obviously there is also that bit of juggling act as well. I feel that when Gai and Adrian’s horses get that scenario to follow and set up the tempo, they can be just as effective as when they lead. I just had to forget that that horse was in the race there a little bit as well and ride my own race and get that horse happy, in a rhythm and he was really strong late.”
All being well Alligator Blood will run next in the WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley – a race that connections feel he will be better suited in this year.
“I think that the fact he has had that prep over 2000, he’s had that hard seasoning in weight-for-age races against the ‘Anamoes’ and the like, I think that will hold him in better stead next year.”
The win of Alligator Blood was a great pointer for this month’s Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale with 12 exciting youngsters by his sire All Too Hard catalogued. A number of them will carry the famous Baramul Stud brand, just like the seven-time Gr1 winner.
Bred by his now part owner Gerry Harvey, Alligator Blood is one of two winners produced by the unraced Encosta de Lago mare Lake Superior.
A daughter of Oaks placegetter Kylikwong (Red Ransom), Lake Superior is a half-sister to stakes winner Cantonese and stakes placegetters Chateau Margaux and Monteux.
Alligator Blood’s third dam is South African Champion Tracy’s Element, the dam of Australian Horse of the Year and six-time Gr1 winner Typhoon Tracy.
Winner: Alligator Blood
Breeding: All Too Hard-Lake Superior (Encosta de Lago)
Breeder: Mr G Harvey
Race: MRC Might and Power Stakes Gr1 (2000m)
Sold for: A$55,000
Sale: 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Baramul Stud
Buyer: Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate
Earnings: A$7,480,525
Owners: G Harvey, Mrs R Simpson & JA Simpson
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (Flemington)
