Group 1 trainer David Vandyke welcomes back Alligator Blood to his Sunshine Coast stable later his week in preparation for the Sydney spring carnival.
The popular son of Vinery sire All Too Hard has been spelling since a summer campaign that put him in the box seat for Queensland Horse of the Year honours in 2019-20.
Alligator Blood built up a huge following while nailing a picket-fence in the Gold Edition Stakes L, Vo Rogue Plate Gr.3 and Magic Millions Guineas RL before travelling south for the C S Hayes Stakes Gr.3 and Australian Guineas Gr.1 at Flemington.
“What he did this season was astounding,” Vandyke said. “He took us on the ride of a lifetime and we’re looking forward to more improvement into the spring.”
Alligator Blood (3g All Too Hard – Lake Superior by Encosta De Lago) was bred by Gerry Harvey at Baramul Stud and is closely related to 2010 Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom).
A $55,000 buy for managing part-owner Allan Endresz at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions, he closed an extended 3yo campaign with a career-card of 10 wins in 12 starts and $2.89million in prizemoney.
“His main mission will be the Golden Eagle,” Vandyke disclosed on Wednesday. “We may go to The Everest on the way but that depends on negotiations with a slot-holder.”
Alligator Blood has been installed a $4.50 favourite for the $7.5million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on October 31. He’s the $8 second favourite behind Nature Strip ($4) for the $14million The Everest at Randwick on October 17.
All Too Hard has expanded Alligator Blood’s contribution to take a Top 10 position on the Australian sires’ premiership with 105 individual winners of 161 races this season. The cream of that count have won 14 Stakes races and he’s a Top 5 stallion in that category.
His overseas expats have also made an impact – none more so than South African-based Frosted Gold who is on track for a Group 1 at the compressed KwaZulu-Natal winter carnival. He motored home from a conspicuous last to finish fifth, beaten a length, in the KZN Guineas Gr.2 over 1600m at Greyville on Sunday.
“He travelled down very well to Durban and, without being sure of the KZN and Cape runners, I expected him to be competitive first-up,” trainer Mike De Kock said. “He’s fit and well and a mile is his optimum trip.”
Frosted Gold (3g All Too Hard – Mary D’Or by Verglas) won the Storm Bird Stakes L and SA Nursery Gr.2 at two and added the Graham Beck Stakes Gr.3 at Turffontein earlier this season.
His next assignment will be at Group 1 level in the Gold Challenge (1600m) at Greyville on June 28.
All Too Hard stands at Vinery for an unchanged fee of $27,500 (inc GST), and this year Vinery have changed their service fee payment terms to now be payable on live foal, which aims to make their stallions more accessible to breeders during this period of uncertainty. All Too Hard stands alongside Exceedance ($38,500), Star Turn ($16,500), Headwater ($13,750), Press Statement ($13,750) and Casino Prince ($5,500) all fees inc GST.
