Crocodile blood is successfully stretched in Underwood
Adrian Bott does not lose faith in Cold bloodedmid-distance ability, although reduced in PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (G1). The co-trainer’s faith in gelding was demonstrated when ‘s son It’s all too hard won Quayclean Underwood Stakes (G1) on September 25.
In taking home his third Group 1 win on his 23rd career start, and in his first run over the 1,600 metres, Alligator Blood also dented the Cox Plate (G1) title of the well-known competitors. more fame on the Sandown Hillside track, prompting Bott and co-coach Gai Waterhouse to solidify their sights on the signature Moonee Valley race in four weeks’ time.
What.A.🐎! The Battle of the Giants goes to Alligator Blood with the $3.5 million earner capturing his 3rd Group 1 at Quayclean Underwood S. at Sandown. Via @VineryStudAll Too Hard, Alligator Blood was purchased for $55,000 at Gold Coast 2018 @mmsnippets #ItPaysToBuyAustralian pic.twitter.com/PSHwYlUuU8
– Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) September 25, 2022
“I know he got caught there late in the race (at Flemington during the Makybe Diva race), but very early in his preparation with a good, tough mile, and he had a little bit of it. checkered to get there, I guess,” Bott said after Alligator Blood’s Underwood Stakes performance.
“There was a significant improvement — we saw that in the week — and through that extra ride he was able to find that nice rhythm and he was able to sustain those passages at cruising speed. well, tall and he can see the pressure.
“It was a test line here today and I hope he continues to find a little more pressure.”
Crocodile blood has 3/4 length for a gathering Mo’ungawhile Zaaki far from third place.
Tim Clark has ridden Alligator Blood in four of his five starts since the horse joined the Waterhouse-Bott stables earlier this year, including the mount in his TAB Stradbroke Handicap (G1) win at Eagle Farm in June. Clark was able to command at the front on gelding.
“He went really well and as planned we wanted to show our intentions early then try to get him into good rhythm from 1,400 meters, 1,200 meters onwards,” Clark said.
“I think he’s traveling really comfortably and he seems to be doing it well in himself. soaking bottom.
“I think he had the courage to respond, and maybe just in his preparation I felt that Zaaki might have been hurt a bit at 1,800 seconds. mine will fight hard.”
Clark shares Bott’s belief that Alligator Blood can close the gap with Cox Plate.
“As I said earlier this week, this race, in addition to Anamoe, all the big guns are there. He’s proven himself over 1,800 (meters) on a big, wide track like this, so 2,040 laps around the Valley, keep going,” jockey said.
6-year-old Gelding, winner of 11 who started with a prize pool of more than AUS$3.6 million, is outside the underrated Lake Superior of Gerry Harvey (Encosta De Lago), another half-sister mother with list winners Cantonese (Redoute’s Choice) and Chateau Margaux (Redoute’s Choice) and Monteux (Medaglia d’Oro) are staked.
With Cox Plate distance being an unanswered question for Alligator Blood, his pedigree paints a somewhat positive picture: his second dam, Kylikwong, came in second in the 2004 VRC Oaks ( G1) and Australasian Oaks (G1) and third in the South Australian Oaks (G1), while his son, All Too Hard, finished second at just 3 years old in Cox Plate 2012.