It appeared that Alligator Blood was on the downward slide as 2021 drew to a close, but the son of All Too Hard has found a new lease of life under the training of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
The big-hearted 6yo gelding chalked up his fifth win at the elite level in Saturday's $750,000 Lamaro's Hotel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Sandown-Lakeside.
With John Allen keen to take up the running on Nugget (GB), Alligator Blood settled beautifully in second for Blake Shinn.
When asked to extend on straightening, Alligator Blood put the race to bed in a matter of strides. He defeated Mr Brightside (Bullbars) by one and a quarter lengths with I'm Thunderstruck (Shocking) a half lengths back in third.
Alligator Blood will head to Moonee Valley with a favourites chance in the $5,000,000 All-Star Mile.
"He really is a phenomenal racehorse. It is so special to be part of his career. He touches so many people. It is so remarkable<" Adrian Bott said.
"He continues to amaze me every preparation. He was potentially vulnerable today, but again he was just too tough of a competitor. He's that good.
"I still feel that there is improvement off the back of today's run and I feel that the mile should be ideal for him. We'd love the votes to see him there.
"We think he could be topweight in a Doncaster, so we wouldn't shy away. He could drop back to an All Aged over the 1400 metres. There's a number of different options there, and keep everything open.
"We'll have a discussion with Mr Gerry Harvey and decide from there. Everything is centred around the All-Star Mile, so we'll have those discussions afterwards.
"It would certainly be a good match-up (against Anamoe). They've had a few good clashes. Anamoe is a champion. He's hard to beat."
With his eighth stakes triumph, Alligator Blood advances his record to 13 wins, four seconds, and a third from 27 starts with earnings of $6,041,575.
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.
