Eleven Eleven barrier trials at Rosehill on Thursday ahead of another Magic Millions campaign

Trainer Greg Hickman says it is business as usual as he prepares stable star Eleven Eleven for the Magic Millions in the wake of the Alligator Blood saga

Hugh Bowman combined with Eleven Eleven to win the 2022 Magic Millions Cup. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside Photography

Trainer Greg Hickman says punter confidence should be paramount and the sanctity of Australian racing’s drug-free rules protected in the fallout over the controversial Alligator Blood saga.

Hickman prepares and is part-owner of classy sprinter Eleven Eleven who could lose the 2020 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in the aftermath of a Queensland Supreme Court decision to void Alligator Blood’s disqualification.

Eleven Eleven was second past the post in the Guineas but was subsequently awarded the race when Alligator Blood was disqualified after testing positive in a post-race swab to a banned substance.

Alligator Blood’s ownership group led by Allan Endresz then appealed to the Queensland Supreme Court arguing they were not given the opportunity to be heard by stewards during the disqualification inquiry held more than two years ago.

Then just before Christmas, Judge Martin Burns handed down his findings, sensationally overturning Alligator Blood’s disqualification when he determined natural justice was denied the horse’s owners at the time of the inquiry.

Eleven Eleven earned $1.165 million prizemoney for the Guineas, which Hickman confirmed had been “paid and spent” by the gelding’s syndicate of owners.

Alligator Blood beat Eleven Eleven home in the 2020 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas only to see the winner later disqualified. Picture: AAP Image–Albert Perez

With the expectation of another inquiry into the Alligator Blood case, Hickman chose his words carefully when asked for comment by News Corp.

“You’re either pregnant or you’re not pregnant,’’ Hickman said of Alligator Blood’s swab.

The drug-free rules of Australian racing are regarded as absolute but there has been suggestions the Queensland Supreme Court decision could open a Pandora’s box for the sport.

To that end, Hickman said: “If punters lose the confidence to bet, we (racing) are in trouble.’’

Judge Burns’s 13-page summary detailed the reasons for his findings and in part read:

“It follows that it was an implied term of the contract that the stewards were obliged to observe the principles of natural justice by providing notice of their hearing to the owners and an opportunity to them to be heard before any finding were made.

“That did not occur and, as such, the hearing was procedurally flawed. I add for clarity, the opportunity for the owners to be heard must be meaningful before it can be properly exercised.’’

To resolve the Alligator Blood case once and for all it is incumbent on the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission or Racing Queensland to either appeal the Supreme Court finding or, most likely, hold another inquiry providing the horse’s owners an opportunity to give evidence, and to reiterate there are no issues with the collection, sampling and analysis of the positive swab.

Eleven Eleven hit the front right on the line to win the 2022 Magic Millions Cup. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside Photography

But for now, it is business as usual for Hickman as Eleven Eleven continues his preparation towards a historic fourth Magic Millions with a crucial barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens on Thursday.

Eleven Eleven will be ridden by champion jockey Nash Rawiller when he clashes with nine rivals in a 1030m heat.

“I’ve done this before with Eleven Eleven, given him a barrier trial then sent him up there a couple of days before the race,’’ Hickman said. “I’m happy with the horse, he’s coming along well for the Magic Millions.’’

After Eleven Eleven was awarded the Guineas, he headed to the Gold Coast to win successive Magic Millions Cups in 2021 and again earlier this year.

Hickman said Eleven Eleven will be entered for the $1m Magic Millions Cup (1425m) again but also the inaugural $1m Magic Millions The Syndicate (1200m) at the rich Gold Coast meeting on January 14.

“I will wait for the nominations to come out on both before deciding which race to start Eleven Eleven,’’ Hickman said.

“There is the new race, the Magic Millions The Syndicate which is for horses with 20 owners or more which we will also consider.’’

Originally published as Eleven Eleven barrier trials at Rosehill on Thursday ahead of another Magic Millions campaign