Alligator Blood’s latest Group 1 victory in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) sparked a flood of support from his fans ahead of the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 18.
Voting for a slot into the All-Star Mile closed at 10pm on Sunday and when counting went behind closed doors on Saturday evening Alligator Blood topped the poll on 15,616. Bookmakers concur with that Australia-wide popularity and have installed him a $4 favourite for the All-Star Mile.
Alligator Blood was sent out a $2.80 favourite for the Futurity Stakes at Sandown on Saturday and he delivered a trademark on-pace victory in the blue and white-sashed colours of managing part-owner Gerry Harvey.
Smartly away under Blake Shinn, he stalked Nugget (GB) until the turn before comfortably holding Mr Brightside (NZ) and I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) in the weight-for-age contest. It was his fourth Group 1 since being taken over by trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
He had won the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in February 2020 when trained by David Vandyke and in the last twelve months has added elite-level victories in the Stradbroke Hcp, Underwood Stakes, Cantala Stakes and Futurity.
“We were going to kick off in the Orr Stakes last week but just felt he needed a bit more time,” Bott said as Shinn brought the winner back to scale. “We’ve been guided by the horse to have him peaking second-up so there’s good improvement on the back of today’s performance.
“But the All-Star Mile is the big target. That’s the one we really want.”
Alligator Blood (6g All Too Hard – Lake Superior by Encosta De Lago) was bred by Harvey at Baramul Stud and sold through its draft to the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions for $55,000. The Futurity prizemoney sent his earnings through $6 million.
Four of his five Group 1 wins have been in Melbourne and that will strike a chord with local buyers sizing up the 11 All Too Hard yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale starting this Sunday.
Vinery (as agent) offers the All Too Hard colt from Zazita (Zabeel) as Lot 249 on Day 1. He’s a half-brother to Amelie’s Star (Testa Rossa) who won Group races in Melbourne and Adelaide for owner-breeders Patrick and Yolanda Hodgens. Another close relation is Saturday’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate runner-up Lofty Strike (Snitzel).
Vinery’s draft of 14 yearlings will be ready for inspections at Barn A as from Tuesday afternoon at Oaklands Junction.
