Alligator Blood, Catalyst fight out thrilling finish in CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington
The clash between boom three-year-olds Alligator Blood and Catalyst lived up to its billing at Flemington in a mouth-watering prelude to the Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile. WATCH THE RACE
It had echoes of a prize-fight showdown and the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) clash between Alligator Blood and Catalyst duly lived up to its billing as the star three-year-olds shared a stirring two-horse battle.
Alligator Blood was headed several times in the straight before fending off Catalyst by a head in a mouth-watering prelude to the Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile.
“That will go down in history that race, the little Queenslander fighting back off the canvas,” trainer David Vandyke said after Alligator Blood’s ninth victory from 10 starts. “They are a couple of stars those two.
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“When Catalyst got to him I thought we were going to run second.
“I was watching the sectionals and they were going hard before the corner and he was sort of softened a bit by Catalyst early.
“They were going stride for stride — he just got the edge the last 50m and showed his class.
“Wow, that’s his best performance.
"Alligator Blood has beaten Catalyst, bring on the Guineas!"
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 15, 2020
The rivals were stride for stride up the straight in an epic battle for the CS Hayes Stakes. @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/AyXa47UWuM
“We’ve never seen him go head and head with another horse, he usually gets there pretty quick and he’s dominant.
“They didn’t muck around, some of the sectionals were pretty slick and you can’t go much quicker than what they did on a soft track.”
Reminiscent of the 1986 Cox Plate war between Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star, Alligator Blood and Catalyst raced together from the 1200m to the post.
“He (Alligator Blood) was headed multiple times but he is true to his name,” jockey Ryan Maloney said.
“It feels like a Group 1 (win) — I can’t be more proud of this horse and after we went a furlong I said to James McDonald that it was a match race.”
TAB BETTING REVIEW
FLEMINGTON
RACE ONE
Several big bets were paid out after Mount Tabora led throughout in The Glorious Goodwood (1600 metres). Opening the day as a $3.30 chance, the gelding drifted slightly out to $3.60 but did open $4.60 on Wednesday when markets were first released. Exasperate ($7.50-$9) and Sunday Pray ($7.50-$5.50) filled the minors. Mount Tabora went around as the most popular horse with 44 percent of the total investment.
BETS: Mount Tabora $4,500 @ $3.60, $10,000 e/w @ $3.30/$1.90, Over Exposure $1,000 @ $3.80 TWICE, $2,000 @ $3.70
RACE TWO
Craig Williams rode the perfect race on Fabric in the Furphy Ale Trophy (1600 metres). The heavily tried mare went straight to the top and Williams rated her perfectly, with the pair racing clear to salute at $2.70 on TAB Fixed Odds. She actually drifted from a quote of $2.10 in the morning but that was mainly due to the fact good money came for Goldifox ($5-$4).
BETS: Fabric $1,500 @ $2.70, $5,000 @ $2.50, Goldifox $6,400 @ $4.20, $2,000 @ $4.20, $2,200 @ $4
RACE THREE
One of the least favoured runners in the race proved too good in the Talindert Stakes (1100 metres). Ole Kirk ($21-$34) was a drifter throughout the day but handled the straight best, bursting through between Nitrous ($11-$6.50) and Mildred ($4-$6) over on the far side to get the verdict. Mildred was the most popular runner with about 25 percent of the investment while River Night ($7-$5.50-$6) attracted solid eachway support. Of the others, Amish Boy was carrying a few big bets too.
BETS: Amish Boy $2,000 x $4,000 e/w @ $11/$3.30, Mildred $2,000 @ $5.50
RACE FOUR
N/A
RACE FIVE
Alligator Blood was the popular elect in the C.S Hayes Stakes (1400 metres) and delivered the goods for its backers. Finding the front for Ryan Maloney, the pair were kept company by second elect Catalyst ($2.70-$3) and staged a two-horse war down the Flemington straight. Kicking hard, Alligator Blood ($2-$1.80) narrowly got the verdict in front of a gallant Catalyst. Between the pair they dominated the hold with 82 percent of the total investment riding on them.
BETS: Alligator Blood $3,000 @ $2, $2,500 @ $2, $2,000 @ $2, $2,000 @ $1.90 MULTIPLE TIMES, $4,000 @ $1.80, $3,000 @ $1.80, Catalyst $8,080 @ $3, $1,500 @ $3 TWICE, $1,400 @ $3, $1,000 @ $3 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE SIX
N/A
RACE SEVEN
Favourite backers were sent packing after Gytrash caused a boilover in the Group One Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000 metres). The Gordon Richards runner had attracted some money, however, it paled in comparison to what came for Nature Strip ($1.50), Redzel ($7.50) and Loving Gaby ($5.50). Between those three runners they commanded a whopping 91 percent of the total investment on the race. Nature Strip alone held more than Redzel and Loving Gaby combined, not to mention the amount of multis he was involved in too. Gytrash stayed on the far side along with Redzel and saluted at $21 on TAB Fixed Odds, with Redzel and Loving Gaby filling the minors.
BETS: Nature Strip $4,500 @ $1.50, $2,000 @ $1.50 MULTIPLE TIMES, $8,000 @ $1.45, $6,665 @ $1.45, $3,000 @ $1.45 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE EIGHT
N/A
RACE NINE
Galaxy Raider provided a rough finish for punters when flying from last to claim The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy (1400 metres). Being sent around as an $18 chance, the Grahame Begg-trained gelding hovered around that quote for most of the day and had some good support at the eachway odds. In a fantastic betting race, Star Missile ($5.50-$3.80) was a good go while Blazejowski ($4.40-$5) had its admirers once again. Those two gallopers were easily the most popular. Admirals Joker ($6.50) had good money come for it as did Rox The Castle ($12) at the price.
BETS: Galaxy Raider $650 @ $19, $600 e/w @ $19/$5, $500 e/w @ $18/$4.60, $500 @ $16, Admirals Joker $1,000 @ $7 TWICE, Star Missile $6,000 @ $4, EF Troop $1,500 @ $12
Originally published as Alligator Blood, Catalyst fight out thrilling finish in CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington
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