Stradbroke Handicap (Group 1)

THE one-time boom three-year-old Alligator Blood, who won nine of his first 10 races including the Group 1 Australian Guineas, has found redemption winning last Saturday’s A$1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap for the training duo of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Derailing Alligator Blood’s early career was a positive test to altrenogest which cost the All Too Hard gelding the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO. First past the post before his disqualification, it also cost his first trainer David Vandyke a $20,000 fine and led to Supreme Court action by his owners.

Winless since that 2020 Australian Guineas, Alligator Blood found his way to his third trainers, Waterhouse and Bott, after recovering from kissing spine surgery.

A first-up second in the Group 3 BRC Sprint preceded Saturday’s breakthrough win with Alligator Blood defeating the Al Maher gelding Private Eye as the Rothesay gelding Rothfire failed in his attempt to lead all the way, finishingace in third.

Being patient

“On straightening it was a matter of just being patient, letting him build through his gears and I thought all he has to do is find off the bridle,” said jockey Tim Clark.

“He showed a great turn of foot. I haven’t had a lot to do with the horse’s career but that was a pretty special performance.”

Milestone

The result boosts Alligator Blood’s record to 10 wins from 20 starts for just over $2.8 million in earnings, while also registering a milestone 150th Group 1 win for Gai Waterhouse.

She becomes only the third trainer in Australia to reach that mark, trailing Bart Cummings and her father Tommy Smith who are in a league of their own. In partnership with Adrian Bott it was their 16th Group 1 together.

“It is a huge thrill, I have never won a Stradbroke,” relayed Waterhouse from London. “I was particularly thrilled because this is a horse Adrian has really taken total and personal responsibility for, he has basically trained Alligator Blood.

“That’s why I am so proud of the win, this horse came to us as ‘fruit out of season’, it has been a long time getting him to the track. I have found that in the decades of my training career, if you can have a horse enjoying what they are doing, they will do it very enthusiastically. That is what we were able to do with Alligator Blood, he is really enjoying life.”

Just two days later Waterhouse and Bott, along with McKeever Bloodstock and Go Bloodstock opened bidding on the Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal at £1 million before securing their horse for £1.2 million, the top lot at the Goffs London Sale.