Alligator Blood owners set for another court battle to stop stewards conducting new inquiry into Magic Millions disqualification

The long-running Alligator Blood saga over his Magic Millions win, which now dates back almost five years, has a sensational new twist.

The Alligator Blood saga is heading for another explosive court showdown with original owners seeking to restrain stewards from conducting current and future inquiries into the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas controversy.

Almost five years into the long-running drama, Racenet can reveal the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and Racing Queensland have been served with a notice of fresh court proceedings by Alligator Blood’s former owner Allan Endresz and the star horse’s other original owners.

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Alligator Blood was originally stripped of the 2020 $2m Magic Millions Guineas win and the prizemoney cheque, following a positive swab to the banned substance, altrenogest.

But Endresz and co were handed a thumping win in court in May when Justice Morrison, of the Court of Appeal, ruled in favour of a court’s original decision to sensationally void Alligator Blood’s disqualification from the $2m 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

Queensland stewards have since announced they will attempt to re-hear the matter in an inquiry.

But, among other claims, Endresz’s legal team insists Alligator Blood’s “A” sample from the day is now unreliable because of laboratory flooding caused from a power blackout when a petrol generator ran out of fuel in 2022.

Alligator Blood after winning the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions Guinea. Picture: Getty Images

New documents now filed with the Supreme Court Of Queensland, and seen by Racenet, reveal the latest court move.

Endresz along with fellow applicants Jeff and Robyn Simpson are seeking a court declaration that the “purported (stewards’) inquiry (which) commenced on 4 July, 2024 into the results of the post-race urine sample … is void and of no effect.

They are also seeking: “Stewards … permanently be restrained from instituting an investigation or inquiry … that may effect the first placing of Alligator Blood in the race.”

Endresz and the original owners are also demanding a court order that Racing Queensland pay the owners’ portion of the prizemoney from the 2020 Guineas win.

They are seeking $978,945.56 plus interest.

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The applications are set to be heard in the Queensland Supreme Court before Christmas.

Allan Endresz (right) and Jeff Simpson (left). Picture: Steve Holland.

Racing Australia had previously listed Alligator Blood as being disqualified from the Magic Millions but has now reinstated the horse as the winner, pending the fresh stewards’ inquiry.

Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott has previously told Racenet that connections of Eleven Eleven, second past the post who was been elevated to winner after Alligator Blood’s original disqualification, would never be asked to repay first-placed prizemoney which had been paid to them.

If RQ and QRIC lose the ongoing court battle, it is therefore possible Queensland’s peak racing body would have to pay out winning prizemoney twice on the same race.

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Respected former Hong Kong chief steward Kim Kelly was appointed as QRIC acting deputy racing integrity commissioner in September, working alongside new commissioner, Catherine Clark.

In relation to the latest developments in the Alligator Blood matter, Kelly told Racenet: “Notwithstanding that the matter dates back some years, and, conversely, the current QRIC leadership team has only recently been appointed, QRIC is fully committed to promptly resolving the matter.”

Seven-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood, now part-owned by Magic Millions supremo Gerry Harvey who purchased a majority share, is currently sidelined after sustaining a long-term pastern injury in January.

There remain hopes he will return to racing.

Originally published as Alligator Blood owners set for another court battle to stop stewards conducting new inquiry into Magic Millions disqualification