Alligator Blood owner Jeff Simpson says his star gelding has already repaid him after overcoming a debilitating “kissing spine” condition ahead of the Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday.
The six-year-old gelding is a good-value $11 winning chance across betting sites going into the Group 1 feature worth $4 million.
He would not be lining up as a five-time Group 1 winner if it wasn’t for his resilience in overcoming a back-saving operation in Queensland.
That surgery kept him out of action from October 31, 2020 – after a disappointing 15th in the Golden Eagle – to August 27 the next year.
Alligator Blood’s vertebrae was compressed, which limited his ability to stretch out properly.
But Simpson knew it was worth the wait.
He was the one who picked out “the Alligator” almost by accident in the 2018 Magic Millions Sales when his nephew and former owner Allan Endresz was trying to buy a horse in an adjacent box.
And since expert trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott took him into his stable for his first start with them – runner-up in the BRC Sprint on May 28 last year – he’s won four of nine starts.
All of those victories have come at Group 1 level as deserved rewards for the top conditioning partnership, as well as Simpson’s wife Robyn and fellow owner, high-profile entrepreneur Gerry Harvey.
“He’s been through quite a bit of trauma in his life and we’ve been patient with him,” Simpson told HorseBetting.com.au.
“He’s repaid us for our patience.”
Alligator Blood was produced by the unraced Encosta de Lago mare Lake Superior and bred by Harvey’s Baramul Stud.
At the 2018 Magic Millions Sales, Simpson had his eyes on a horse out of Better Than Ready, and he mentioned to Endresz they should do a deal with Harvey to buy that horse.
But while Endresz was talking to Harvey, Alligator Blood made an instant impression on him in the box next door.
He ordered Endresz pay Harvey $55,000, and the retail king recently purchased a major interest in his homebred star.
So was it luck how Simpson ended up owning a gifted middle-distance gelding now with $6.25 million in prizemoney to his name?
“Everybody says that to me and I always say it’s skill,” he said.
“I’ve been involved with horses for 50-odd years, so I know a little bit of what I’m looking at.
“When we first bought him I would’ve been happy to win a Class 6 at Eagle Farm, but he’s just a cracker of a horse.”
After a stunning 1 ¼-length win in the Futurity Stakes, $2.70 favourite Alligator Blood finished a disappointing fourth in the All Star Mile at The Valley on March 18.
Jockey Blake Shinn said there were no excuses for his mount after having a nice run and presenting at the top of the straight.
The star six-year-old took the lead just inside the final furlong before dropping back to fourth.
But before the race he looked relaxed and unfazed, and the pressure of the Doncaster Mile won’t get to him on Saturday, either.
In fact, he might relish going in as fourth-favourite behind All Star Mile conqueror Mr Brightside ($5.50), Fangirl ($7) and Zougotcha ($8).
“He’s a very smart horse, and he looks after himself and saves his energy for race day,” Simpson said.
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