ALLIGATOR BLOOD BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT

By Graham Potter | Thursday, August 26, 2021

One way or another, the Listed Goldmarket, which will be run at the Gold Coast over 1200m on Friday, will be all about Alligator Blood.

The high profile, well performed son of All Too Hard resumes after a ten month break from race action at the track which produced his most infamous result … a win in the Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Guineas and his subsequent disqualification. That was the only time he has raced at the Gold Coast.

A good portion of that time away was spent in recovery and rehabilitation following an operation for a kissing spine and all eyes will be on Alligator Blood to see how well he has returned.

Certainly, there was enough to like in his jump-out in-between races at the Sunshine Coast and his official trial at the Gold Coast in his build-up to his first run back to suggest he can again become a force to be reckoned with, but many will hold back judgement until they see how he performs under race pressure.

On Friday, the Group 1 winner (Alligator Blood won the Group 1 Australian Guineas when with trainer David Vandyke) will have to shoulder the steadying burden of 61kg and he will also have to give all of his rivals no less than 7kg at the weights. (All are set to carry 54kg).

On the positive side, past statistics-wise, Alligator Blood is unbeaten over the 1200m trip and he has won three out of four starts first-up … but that was as a progressive two, three and four year old. Again, the scrutiny will be there on the now a five-year-old to see how he ushers in the next, new stage of his career.

Alligator Blood, who left the David Vandyke stable after his last run (in the Golden Eagle) on October 31, 2020, was earmarked to go to the Waterhouse / Bott training partnership, but his owners were impressed with the way that trainer Billy Healey handled the horse in the interim. They changed their plans and officially gave the horse to Healey to train, which translates into a big arrival in the young trainer’s camp.

Healey has obviously embraced the opportunity, but he very much has his feet on the ground and is realistic about Alligator Blood’s situation going into Friday’s race.

“Everything has been pretty smooth sailing with the build-up to the race,” said Healey. “He’s coming off a long time off, but he is in good order and he will improve on whatever he does on Friday.

“His jump-out at the Sunshine Coast was quite impressive. It probably took a little out of him. He was a just a little bit flat for that second trial … but he bounced out of it real good. He has tightened up nicely … has got dapples all over him.

“His work on Tuesday was good and he looks great.

“He will be vulnerable with 61kg first-up after that long break, but he is a quality horse and he is going well,” concluded Healey.

Jimmy Orman, who ride Alligator Blood in both the jump-out and the trial, will be in the saddle on Friday.

At the time of writing Alligator Blood is a $4.40 chance to win on his return, ahead of the David Vandyke trained Desert Lord ($4.60) and Racecourse Road ($4.80).

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