Part-owner of Alligator Blood Allan Endresz dedicates Magic Millions 3YO Guineas win to wife battling cancer
An emotional Allan Endresz has devoted his Magic Millions 3YO Guineas win with Alligator Blood to wife Joy who is battling cancer.
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AN EMOTIONAL Allan Endresz has devoted his Magic Millions 3YO Guineas win with Alligator Blood to wife Joy who is battling cancer.
The part-owner of the Guineas winner gave a defiant and emotional speech to the 24,500 strong crowd at Aquis Park on Saturday following a day or drama for connections of Alligator Blood.
Alligator blood is used in the treatment of some cancers and the horse lived up to its namesake, battling through a dramatic day that included delays through a major crash on the M1, a horse bolting before the Guineas and another losing it’s plate, to win the 1400m race.
“I just want to thank my wife (Joy) at home,” the Albury resident said.
“She has got true alligator blood spirit. She is fighting stage four cancer.
“She gave me her blessing to be here. She wants all Queenslanders to have that Alligator Blood spirit – don’t give up, be tenacious, resilient and always fight it out.
“We had some dramas (on Saturday).
“My co-owners … aunty and uncle, Jeff and Robyn Simpson, they take pride in all our horses as 100 per cent owners they nearly look after them better then their own children.
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“This horse is a Queensland horse, he is your Queensland star.
“Let me tell you and the rest of Australia, hitch that wagon to the star because we are going to the moon as Frank Sinatra once sung.”
Alligator Blood’s trainer David Vandyke said the win was the highlight of his career.
“Considering everything that happened (in the lead up) it would have to be the highlight of my career,” Vandyke said.
“He was held up, I didn’t know if he would get here on time.
“And then the delays at the start, he was agitated, he was sweating, but the good horses do it and he was going to win when they straightened.
“It’s been a high pressure situation, he is a Queensland competitor and it was just wonderful to see him step up at this top level and win such a prestigious race.”
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When asked how proud he was of the horse, Vandyke said:
“I don’t want to start crying. He has that x-factor and some,” Vandyke said.
“He loves what he does. He gets out there and tries hard. He is well named, he has that alligator blood.”
Vandyke spoke of his relief from the win after being less than happy with his condition on arrival.
“He was (always) going to run. He wanted to run,” Vandyke said.
“I wasn’t happy with him (when he arrived) but I wanted to give him the opportunity to do what he does best which is get out there and compete. He is a dead set competitor and done his state and owners proud.”
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