Alligator Blood’s Magic Millions Guineas win proves he’s one of ‘the best of his generation’
It is rare for the Magic Millions Guineas to overshadow the juvenile showpiece at the Gold Coast but Alligator Blood did just that with his brilliant effort. PLUS jockey suspended despite 700 clean rides.
Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Alligator Blood proved he is a bona fide member of racing’s new golden generation of three-year-olds with his outstanding win in the Magic Millions Guineas.
It is rare for the Guineas to overshadow the juvenile showpiece at the Gold Coast but that was the case with Alligator Blood’s brilliant effort.
Trainer David Vandyke’s star young sprinter had plenty against him after the float he was travelling in became caught in a traffic jam. The three-year-old was agitated when he finally arrived on track and then there was a further delay at the start.
But Alligator Blood still made light work of his Guineas rivals, dominating the race to score his eighth win from just nine starts – his only loss coming when run down in the very last stride by Super Seth in the Caulfield Guineas.
Watch over 50 sports LIVE on Kayo! Stream to your TV, mobile, tablet or computer. Just $25/month, cancel anytime. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Vandyke said Alligator Blood is likely to be set for a three-race Melbourne autumn campaign including the Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile then be put aside for the spring where the main aims will be The Everest and Golden Eagle.
Alligator Blood deserves to be rated up with the best of his generation – and this season’s three-year-old crop is one of the most exciting in years with the likes of Yes Yes Yes, Exceedance, Bivouac, Castelvecchio, Super Seth and the fillies, Funstar and Libertini.
The good news for races fans is that Alligator Blood is a gelding and unlike the majority of his contemporaries, his future is on the racetrack and not at stud.
ALLIGATOR BLOOD EYES THE EVEREST
Vandyke said the massive prizemoney on offer in Australian racing means there is no immediate plans to race Alligator Blood overseas.
“We have had offers to (race in) Dubai but there is so much money in Australia this day and age and my first thought is we don’t have to think about anything abroad this year,’’ the trainer said.
“There is a possibility he could be in The Everest, I wouldn’t rule that out. The world is his oyster, really.’’
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors immediately elevated Alligator Blood to $15 in early betting for the $15 million The TAB Everest next October. Bivouac and Yes Yes Yes are favourites at $8 ahead of Exceedance and Nature Strip at $11.
STAYING IN THE GAME WITH SPRINTERS
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace might be renowned for their success with stayers but they are also developing a very good record with two-year-olds after Away Game became the fourth filly in as many years to win the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
The promising Away Game is going to be given her chance to become the first filly to win the Magic Millions-Golden Slipper double, a feat achieved only by geldings Dance Hero (2004) and Phelan Ready (2009), and the colt, Capitalist (2016).
Away Game’s runaway win comes after the stable had good results with their two-year-olds last season, most notably Loving Gaby and Dubious.
Maher and Eustace also have Muntaseera and Celsabeel on the Golden Slipper trail.
‘THE FUTURE IS IN AUSTRALIA’
John Gosden, the leading English trainer of champions Enable and Stradivarius, said racing horses in Australia made financial sense because of the record prizemoney levels.
“The future is very much here and I don’t think anyone can deny that,’’ Gosden said in an article from The Weekend Australian.
His views were supported by Tom Magnier of Coolmore Australia who said the prizemoney and younger crowds attending race meetings here has seen the Australian racing industry surpass all others.
“The industry here is very healthy and it’s very easy to get people from not only in Australia but around the world to invest here at the moment,’’ Magnier said.
In the same article, Magic Millions boss Gerry Harvey said the enthusiasm of officials like Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys had “driven the sport to new levels” and is attracting a younger audience.
“Australia, to my way of thinking, is the only place in the world that has done that,” Harvey said.
INVINCIBELLA PROVES INVINCIBLE
Invincibella created her own piece of Magic Millions history with her third successive win in the Fillies and Mares race.
Purchased by Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds for $180,000 as a yearling, Invincibella has now won 12 races earning than $3 million prizemoney for her syndicate of owners.
WALLER’S CASH BONANZA
Chris Waller trained two of the big-race winners at the Gold Coast meeting with Invincibella and Madam Rouge in the Magic Millions Snippets.
The Hall of Fame trainer has now prepared the winners of incredible nine races worth at least $1 million prizemoney this season including the $14 million The Everest and $7.5 million Golden Eagle.
Waller’s dual Magic Millions wins means his stable runners have earned $30.3 million prizemoney already in 2019-20 – and the season is not quite at the halfway mark yet. The champion trainer seems certain to break the all-time stakes record of $43.3 million he set last season.
CLEAN JOCKEY’S DIRTY RIDE
Jay Ford is regarded as one of NSW racing “cleanest” jockeys so it was surprising when he was suspended for careless riding at Randwick.
When considering penalty, Racing NSW stewards found Ford had not been suspended for more than 700 rides and his outstanding riding record meant the jockey was only issued with a two-meeting ban.
JOCKEY NOT MR DEPENDABLE
Stewards also questioned Adam Hyeronimus after his losing ride on hot favourite Mr Dependable in the final race at Randwick.
Hyeronimus explained his instructions were to lead if possible but once Mr Dependable found the front, the horse was inclined to race keenly in the middle stages. The jockey elected to increase the tempo from the 600m given the favourite was still travelling strongly.
Mr Dependable opened up a huge lead at the top of the straight but faded badly for third behind Dabiyr. Stewards accepted the jockey’s explanation that the grey over-raced in front contributed to his failure to run out the 1800m.
SYDNEY RACING LOOKING ROSIE
Sydney racing returns to Rosehill Gardens for the first time in seven weeks on Saturday.
Rosehill last hosted a Saturday race day on December 7 before a midweek meeting four days later.
Since then, Royal Randwick and the Kensington track have carried the bulk of Sydney meetings over the crowded summer period.
The Randwick course proper has held up remarkably well in recent weeks and even though the rail was out 11m last Saturday, the track again raced very evenly.