Alligator Blood set for Guineas

Ryan Maloney is happier than ever with his new life in Queensland but still enjoys returning to Victoria for the odd big race raid and he’s increasingly confident Caulfield can provide him with his biggest ever payday on Saturday.

Jockey Ryan Maloney is hopeful Alligator Blood can get the job done in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

RACING: Ryan Maloney is happier than ever with his new life in Queensland but still enjoys returning to Victoria for the odd big race raid and he’s increasingly confident Caulfield can provide him with his biggest ever payday on Saturday.

Knowing a Caulfield Group 1 opportunity slipped through his hands a few years back, Maloney says it would mean the world to win the $2 million Caulfield Guineas on Alligator Blood.

“This is what you work towards,” he said.

“He’s the right horse, he’s got the X-factor. It’s an even sort of race … there’s no Autumn Sun or Pierro or All Too Hard this year.

“He’s pretty push button. I don’t think I’ve been as confident heading into a Group 1 as I am.”

Maloney has won eight Group 2 and 3 races, but a Group 1 has so far proven elusive.

“I should have won the Futurity (in 2014) on Sertorius, but he stood in the gates. Another 10m he would have won it. That was the closest I’ve come,” he said.

“(Alligator Blood) should come into barrier 11 and I think the 1400m last time will just take the edge off him where he won’t over-do it.

“He’s had a faultless preparation, bar Sydney (where he was scratched after going berserk in the race day stalls). The best thing about that is they were allowed to scratch. If he had run, it could have ruined his whole preparation. Saving grace he didn’t and he’s gone on and won his past two.”

Maloney’s strike rate when returning to his old stomping ground is impressive. He’s ridden Group 3 winners at three of the seven Victorian meetings he’s ridden at since setting up camp in Queensland.

He regards the move north as one of the best moves he’s ever made, a defining moment in his career.

“Absolutely. I love the lifestyle, the weather is better, people are great, traffic is nowhere near as bad and you don’t have to travel as much,” he said. “I’ve had great support since I’ve been here, albeit I’ve let myself down with weight.

“My body just couldn’t cope with 54kg. Yo-yo-ing all the time made it harder and harder. Keeping it at 55kg makes it a lot easier mental-wise as well.”

Maloney has an extraordinary winning strike rate of 41.5 per cent from 53 rides for Alligator Blood’s Sunshine Coast-based trainer David Vandyke.

“You click with some people and I clicked with him straight away,” Maloney said.

-Nathan Exelby

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