Racing sensation Alligator Blood’s bid to win All-Star Mile, The Everest and Golden Eagle
The stage is set for the newest superstar on the racing scene, with Alligator Blood in line to take down three of the richest races in the country after claiming his first Group 1 win.
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Trainer David Vandyke has confirmed his intention to aim racing’s new sensation Alligator Blood at the All Star Mile, The Everest and Golden Eagle – three races with combined prizemoney of a staggering $27.5 million.
Alligator Blood claimed his first Group 1 win and his 10th success from just 11 starts when he raced away with the Australian Guineas at Flemington last Saturday.
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There has been plenty of debate since about long-term plans for Alligator Blood including a possible clash with Te Akau Shark in the Cox Plate later this year but Vandyke put an end to speculation when he revealed the gelding’s will be set for the All Star Mile-The Everest-Golden Eagle treble.
“When I consider the sectional times Alligator Blood can run, I feel he is entitled to take his place in The Everest,’’ Vandyke said.
“Indeed, Alligator Blood is now the favourite for The Everest, he’s favourite for the Golden Eagle and he’s favourite for the All-Star Mile.
“Those three races combined are worth $27.5 million and he’s favourite for all of them.
“They are the three targets this year and we wouldn’t consider stepping him out over further than the Golden Eagle distance (1500m) as the lure is too great.’’
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Alligator Blood $3 favourite for the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on March 14, $8 equal favourite with European champ Pinatubo for the $15 million The TAB The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17 and $4.50 for the $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 29.
This trio of mega-rich races weren’t even in existence three years ago but their acceptance and impact is changing the face of Australian racing. If Alligator Blood can make a clean sweep the All-Star Mile-Everest-Golden Eagle treble, he will earn nearly $15 million prizemoney.
Alligator Blood’s owner Allan Endresz revealed he is “thick in negotiations” with an Everest slot-holder for a start in the world’s richest turf race.
Endresz said if he is hopeful of reaching an agreement on The Everest slot soon and has plans to use this as a platform to promote the family’s advertising business called “Zukaz” which is described as a “location-based, augmented reality mobile application that is free-to-play, allowing merchants to market direct to consumers through real cash vouchers’’.
Vandyke’s immediate focus is Alligator Blood’s recovery from his Australian Guineas win and progress towards the All-Star Mile in two weeks.
“He was a very tired horse after the Guineas, he was dragging his legs to the truck,’’ the trainer said.
“When we got him back to the stables, we put his legs in some ice buckets and gave him some anti-inflammatories.
“This morning he had a spring in his step, he’d eaten well and I took him for a swim.
“We will have a more definite idea on the All-Star Mile when I throw a saddle on him in a few days but at the moment we are getting positive signs.’’