All Too Hard’s promising 2yo Alligator Blood remains on track for a trip to Sydney after maintaining his unbeaten record in the Coastline BMW 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast.
He flew home off a fast pace to win on debut last month and was too good again despite a slow tempo second-up on Saturday.
Jockey Jeff Lloyd positioned the All Too Hard youngster one-out and one-back behind Stampe before peeling off the favourite’s heels to score a convincing victory. “He’s a nice horse Alligator Blood. A real nice horse,” race-caller Josh Fleming claimed on Sky Channel. “He’s highly promising, I reckon.”
Trainer David Vandyke has been a believer since purchasing Alligator Blood for a bargain-basement $55,000 from Baramul Stud at the 2018 Magic Millions. The Group 1 winning conditioner is in NZ for the Karaka Yearling Sale and his partner and stable foreperson Emma Lehmann saddled the winner at Corbould Park
“He’s a lovely horse who just keeps stepping up,’ Lehmann said. “David has a high opinion of him and will make a decision on his next run when he gets back home.”
Alligator Blood (2g All Too Hard – Lake Superior by Encosta de Lago) has several options at home before Sydney’s juvenile program goes into Group 1 overdrive for the for the Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 23, Inglis Sires’ Produce (1400m) on April 6 and Champagne Stakes (1600m) on April 20.
Vandyke feels he will prefer the Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes and so does the jockey. “He’s an improving type but I don’t know about the Golden Slipper,” Lloyd said on Saturday. “I will leave those things to David but I think he will be better at 1400m to 1600m.”
