Few horses overcome the adversity faced by Alligator Blood, who rarely gives anything other than his best, with his big heart carrying him to victory in Saturday's $3,000,000 Group 1 Kennedy Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.
Taking up his favoured front-running role by Tim Clark, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding was not for catching.
The 6-year-old son of all Too Hard defeated the Kermadec gelding Tuvalu by a half-length with three-quarters of a length back to the admirable Mr Brightside (Bullbars) three-quarters of a length back in third.
With his fourth Group 1 triumph, Alligator Blood advances his record to twelve wins, four seconds, and a third from 26 starts with earnings of $4,615,584.
Gai Waterhouse said the son of All Too Hard may be given his chance to land a second All-Star Mile.
"Absolute relief. He won at Sandown, beating so many of the horses that he was up against today, and Adrian was adamant about the mile, and so was Gerry and I bow to their superior knowledge because they were completely right," Gai Waterhouse admitted.
"Tim was able to use his speed from the gates, he stuck to the fence, and it was 'see you later Alligator'.
"I know Adrian will get huge satisfaction, Gerry (Harvey, owner) will be looking at the dollars and cents.
"I told him we'd give him both today, not only give him the dollars and cents, but we'd give him the trophy as well.
"It’s a wonderful thing. This horse has gone through a lot with his back injury, he’s come through it, he’s racing in superb fashion and today he just showed he was the best of the best.”
“He’s been in the best weight-for-age race, which is of course the Cox Plate, now to this which is probably his better distance. It was fabulous.”
Tim Clark said the drop back in distance proved the deciding factor.
He was well set up coming back from the 2000m, he is at the back end of a really tough campaign and full credit to Gai and Adrian and Bec and Dave, the staff down here, they’ve kept him up that extra couple of weeks and looked after him,” Clark said.
“He’s just had a wonderful prep the whole way through and he’s never let us down, really.
“It’s great to see him get another Group 1 on the board… he wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s as tough as they come and obviously didn’t have Zaaki on speed with him but he still was able to flow nicely and importantly he relaxed really well to give a good, strong kick.
“What a wonderful job and can’t thank Gai and Adrian enough.”
Bred by and now carrying the colours of Gerry Harvey, Alligator Blood sold for $55,000 to Allan Endresz's Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the last foal of Lake Superior, an unraced half-sister by Encosta de Lago to stakes-winner Cantonese from the Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy family.
