Alligator Blood has pulled up perfectly after a courageous fifth in the Cox Plate and will press on to the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.
All Too Hard’s champion weight-for-age performer crossed from the outside barrier on a Heavy 8 at Moonee Valley and didn’t get any favours facing the breeze outside Zaaki. Coming off the camber, Anamoe peeled off his heels for an admirable victory with ‘Gator’ giving his all just two lengths in arrears.
“That was a really brave effort,” jockey Tim Clark said. “I thought he went as well today as he has gone all prep.”
There were concerns when Racing Victoria ordered a race-eve vet check that stunned co-trainer Gai Waterhouse. “Gai knew there was nothing wrong,” Tulloch Lodge Racing Manager Emma Reeves said. “She was with him the whole time in Melbourne and couldn’t fault him after his final gallop at Flemington.”
Alligator Blood is a confirmed starter for the $3million VRC Champions Mile (Gr.1, 1600m) at Flemington on Saturday week, November 5. Earlier plans to travel west are on hold for the WATC Northerly Stakes (Gr.1, 1800m) at Ascot on December 3.
All Too Hard’s Hong Kong champion Wellington is also thriving after asserting his superiority in the Premier Bowl (Gr.2, 1200m) on Sunday. He was back cantering at Sha Tin on Monday and Wednesday ahead of his next assignment in the Jockey Club Sprint (Gr.2, 1200m) on November 20.
At the Magic Millions 2YO Sale on Tuesday, all four sons of All Too Hard were sold to Asian buyers on the Gold Coast. Nolen Racing’s colt from Lilly in Love (Lot 75) led the quartet with a $160,000 bid from Sandy Javier.
Tal Nolen, as agent for Mitch Williams (Moorillah Pastoral), also sold the colt from Divergence (Lot 35) for $100,000 to Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu. He had also purchased the All Too Hard – Be Happy colt for $230,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale in Sydney on October 11.
Vinery stands All Too Hard for $38,500 (inc GST). For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
