Oliver adds to Group 1 haul in Underwood
Yesterday’s Underwood Stakes (Gr 1, 1800m) was won by a rejuvenated Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), who demonstrated his superior class to produce a dominant win at Caulfield and retain his title won 12 months ago, as the retiring Damien Oliver added a 129th Group 1 victory to his CV.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained seven-year-old was positioned prominently by Oliver, replacing the injured Tim Clark, and he was the last to move on his mount before pushing Alligator Blood out to a length victory over Tuvalu (Kermadec) and Duais (Shamus Award), who showed promise in finishing third, beaten a length a quarter.
Alligator Blood, who beat Mo’unga (Savabeel) and Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) to win the Underwood Stakes last year, earned a sixth Group 1 win of his career, as his prize-money swelled beyond $6.8 million.
He returned this season with a fourth-placed finish in the Memsie Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) before claiming second in the Makybe Diva Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) just seven days prior to yesterday’s contest, each time finishing behind indomitable winner Mr Bightside (Bullbars).
Alligator Blood finished fifth in last year’s Cox Plate behind Anamoe (Street Boss), and Moonee Valley will be his likely destination again this spring.
“He’s not going to go out without a bang. He’ll be like Frankie Dettori. It was a fabulous win today,” the exuberant Waterhouse said.
“He got into a bit of a scrimmage in the first two furlongs, got shuffled back to fifth, had to come three wide and then he got into that lovely rhythm that he’s got, a great stride. He was fabulous.
“I think going up in distance there was less pressure on, and he could get into that rhythm that he is very good at. It’s great that there are so many people here to see Alligator Blood and it’s great that he could deliver. It’s so exciting for everyone.
“I will speak to Adrian. We may go to the Turnbull, but we’ll wait and see. Today we backed him up as it gave us a few more options, but that is exactly where we want to be, Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day.”
Oliver announced last month that he will retire at the end of this spring carnival in Melbourne, and was grateful for yesterday’s chance.
“You never know if that opportunity is going to come. It was unfortunate Tim’s accident and the fall, but he is on the road to recovery now and I was able to pick up this horse and I’m happy to just fill in for him while he’s making his way back,” Oliver said.
“Gai was adamant she wanted him to lead. I just felt, on his back today, he was a bit quieter on the seven day back-up and he wasn’t as sharp from the gates today. There were a few others a bit quicker and they crossed him pretty sharply. I had to wait and hold my nerve a little bit until they settled and then I was able to go upside the lead.
“It was a great effort from a horse that is tough and resilient over a long period of time. He’s had some injuries to overcome and he showed a lot of fight when the leader took a fair bit of sprint out of them. We had to take it up a fair way out and he held them off quite strongly.”
Alligator Blood (7 g All Too Hard – Lake Superior by Encosta De Lago) was a $55,000 buy for Allan Endresz’s Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Baramul Stud draft.