Damien Oliver eager to stay on Alligator Blood in Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes
The recent union between Damien Oliver and star miler Alligator Blood could lead to the retiring champion jockey “going out with a bang”, according to trainer Gai Waterhouse.
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Legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse says Alligator Blood could be the horse to send champion jockey Damien Oliver into retirement with “a bang”.
Oliver, who announced last month this would be his last spring carnival in the saddle, picked up the ride on Alligator Blood a fortnight ago for the Group 1 Memsie Stakes after regular jockey Tim Clark was injured in a race fall.
Clark will be out of the saddle for some time after sustaining internal injuries and fractured ribs in an incident at Wyong on the eve of the Memsie Stakes.
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Oliver came off the bench to guide Alligator Blood into fourth in the Memsie, beaten less than a length, behind the rampant Mr Brightside.
Waterhouse, who trains Alligator Blood in partnership with Adrian Bott, said Oliver was happy to stick with the multiple Group 1 winner in Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes and possibly other Group 1 races before the jockey retired at the end of the year.
“Alligator Blood is just thriving and … Damien was only too eager and keen to get back in the saddle,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s decided to go out in a flurry, for a man that’s had the most wonderful career, he’s decided to leave on a bang and Alligator could easily give him that.”
Alligator Blood is a $5 second favourite for Saturday’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes, trailing only Memsie winner Mr Brightside ($2.10) in the TAB market.
Memsie Stakes runner-up Princess Grace ($6), Osipenko ($9) and Zaaki ($11) are the main contenders in the Makybe Diva.
Alligator Blood and Mr Brightside have both enjoyed success in several meetings against each other while Zaaki will resume his rivalry with both stars should trainer Annabel Neasham decide to run him at Flemington on Saturday.
“It’s amazing these horses, they keep matching up every few weeks, they go into combat,” Waterhouse said.
“They’re a great group of horses, we’re so lucky to be able to enjoy watching them race.”
Alligator Blood completed a “leisurely” course-proper track gallop at Flemington on Tuesday morning with Oliver aboard.
“I said don’t leave the race on the track and he went very leisurely, he worked with a horse, a last-start winner Gold Bullion, and they worked very nicely over 1200m in a stylish way,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s a very big gelding, Alligator Blood, so when he takes a stride it’s a decent stride.”
Alligator Blood was touched off on the post in the Makybe Diva last year by the late I’m Thunderstruck in a pulsating finish.
However, Alligator Blood went on to win the Group 1 Underwood Stakes and Champions Mile in a terrific spring.
Waterhouse said she expected similar improvement from the six-year-old in Saturday’s $750,000 contest.
“He’s bigger all around, taller, more robust, he’s a bit like a warhorse,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s going to take a stack of beating in whatever he runs in from now on.”
Originally published as Damien Oliver eager to stay on Alligator Blood in Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes
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