Winning Horse: Alligator Blood (Aus)
6yoG All Too Hard (Aus) – Lake Superior (Aus)(Encosta De Lago (Aus))
27 starts – 13 wins 4 seconds 1 third 1 fourth $7184250
Group 1 Wins
1st G1 Flemington Kennedy Champions Mile 1600m (2022)
1st G1 Sandown-Hillside Quayclean Underwood Stakes 1800m (2022)
1st G1 Eagle Farm Tab Stradbroke Hcp 1400m (2022)
1st G1 Flemington Kennedy Australian Guineas 1600m (2020)
Black Type Wins
1st G3 Flemington C S Hayes Stakes 1400m (2020)
1st G3 Eagle Farm Magic Millions Vo Rogue Plate 1400m (2019)
1st LR Eagle Farm Pages Gold Edition Plate 1200m (2019)
1st G3 Caulfield Caulfield Guineas Prelude-C&G 1400m (2019)
Race Result:
1st: Alligator Blood (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Blake Shinn) – $2.80F
2nd: Mr Brightside (Ben & JD Hayes/Craig Williams) – $4.20
3rd: I’m Thunderstruck (Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr./Jamie Kah) – $2.90
Winning Time: 1:23.13 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 1¼L x ½L
Winning Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (Adrian speaking)
Adrian on racing.com: “Sensational. Really proud of the horse. He’s been sensational for the stable. Really delighted for everyone involved and to be able to continue adding to the story of his career.
“He really is a phenomenal racehorse.
Why first-up here: “Everything has been based around the All-Star Mile. We had a couple of ideas whether to kick off in the Orr or the Futurity but we were guided by him throughout the campaign.
“We just felt that he needed that bit more time. We thought we could have him peaking second-up.
“We followed that previously with him so I think there’s good improvement off the back of today and obviously we’ve got the big target in the All-Star Mile and that’s the one we really want to secure for him.”
Adrian on Channel 7: “He really is a phenomenal racehorse. It is so special to be part of his career. He touches so many people. It is so remarkable.
“He continues to amaze me every preparation. He was potentially vulnerable today but again he was just too tough of a competitor. He’s that good.”
All-Star Mile: “I still feel that there is improvement off the back of today’s run and I feel that the mile should be ideal for him. We’d love the votes to see him there.”
After that – maybe Queen Elizabeth: “Potentially, but we also thought he could be topweight in a Dincaster so wouldn’t shy away from that. He could drop back to an All Aged over the 1400 metres. There’s a number of different options there and kept everything open.
“We’ll have a discussion with Mr Gerry Harvey and decide from there. Everything is centred around the All-Star Mile so we’ll have those discussions afterwards.”
How he’d go against Anamoe if they met again: “It would certainly be a good match-up. They’ve had a few good clashes. Anamoe is a champion. He’s hard to beat.”
Winning Jockey: Blake Shinn
Blake on racing.com – What this means to win a G1 back in Victoria: “It means a lot. I probably should have had one 30 minutes ago in the Blue Diamond. My horse never got out.
“But is amazing, 35 minutes in racing. You just have to keep your head up and it is just thrilling to come back to Victoria – I’ve only been back a relatively short time – and to get the support of the trainers and owners and to ride such a headline horse like Alligator Blood, it is such a privilege.
“Adrian and Gai, they’ve marvellous trainers and I’m honoured to be a part of their team an play a small part.
“It is great to get this result for everyone today.”
On the race – did he have a sense anyone would take them on: “It’s interesting. I had a feeling Nugget may go (forward). That was possibly the only one. Maybe Mr Brightside.
“Our plan was to jump and dictate. Nugget was going to force my had to go a bit quicker than I wanted to so I just tucked in nicely and had cover down the back. When I wanted to let him slide he picked up beautifully.
“Have to bear in mind that he was first-up today and I had to ride him to be strong late and he was super through the line.”
Is he hardest horse in Australia to get past: “He has to be. He reminds me of a horse I used to ride, Happy Clapper.
“Tough as nails, this horse is. I take my hat off to Gai and Adrian. I suppose he hasn’t been the easiest horse to manage but they’re just wonderful people to deal with (and they) know their horses back-to-front.
“I’m the lucky recipient today.”
Blake on Channel 7 – First ride on him today but had done work on him: “I had jumped him out and did a bit of trackwork on him. He’s just an amazing horse.
“I don’t think he’s the easiest horse to train but full credit to Gai and Adrian. They’ve managed him and got him back today to him best form and he was a dominant winner in the end.”
Sensed I’m Thunderstruck might come and get past: “I sensed that in the run but I was tucked in behind Nugget, gave him a nice bit of cover and he was first-up today so I didn’t want to be giving him too hard a run in the early stages.
“I needed to be strong to the line and from the 500 (metre mark) onwards it was ‘game on’ and he was there for me.”
WIll he ride him in the All-Star Mile: “It is more than likely at this stage after today’s performance but we’ll let the dust settle and have a chat to my agent and the team and work it out.”
25 Group 1 wins: “That’s number two in Victoria. The Melbourne Cup and this one. Plenty of seconds and stuff. It’s nice to get that one today and hopefully we’ll have many more to come.”
Beaten Jockeys:
Jamie Kah (I’m Thunderstruck): “He was good. Just second-up he was a touch flat.”
Craig Williams (Mr Brightside): “Fantastic performance. He’s gone another level. Just frustrating we’ve run second but I’m delighted by the way the horse is going his second run this preparation.”
Michael Dee (Aegon): “Great run. He always tries his hardest and puts his best foot forward. Just those first three are too classy.”
Ethan Brown (My Oberon): “Satisfactory. Up against fitter, sharper horses. Looking for at least a mile, I think. He’s going to take great benefit from this run into second-up. Satisfactory.”
John Allen (Nugget): “He ran ok. Might be better just taking the sit.”