By Michael Manley
For Gai Waterhouse, there’s no doubt in her mind that Alligator Blood is underestimated by the racing public, but she believes over the next fortnight that will change.
She also can’t fathom how Alligator Blood isn’t shorter in the markets for Saturday’s group 1 Might and Power Stakes (2000 metres) at Caulfield and believes that’s the race where, finally, the general public will latch on to how good he is.
Alligator Blood at Altona Beach this week.Credit:Getty Images
PointsBet has Alligator Blood as an equal-third favourite at $6 with I’m Thunderstruck. The favourite is Anamoe at $2.40 with Zaaki at $4.40.
“He’s up against virtually the Cox Plate field on Saturday except for some three-year-olds who might come through. If he can win, which I’m expecting him to do, he’ll be the Cox Plate favourite,” Waterhouse said.
“I have no doubt about him running 2000 metres or 2040 metres as he’s so relaxed when he runs and he’s so focused. He’s a warhorse and he dominates from the front.”
Waterhouse said Alligator Blood was up against most of the horses he defeated when he won the group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800 metres) at Sandown Hillside on September 25.
“He was a different horse before his last start than before his previous start and he’s gone right on with it. He’s in excellent condition and he’s going to be hard to beat and he’s improved from his last start,” she said.
Waterhouse said Alligator Blood was a horse in the same vein as her former weight-for-age stars such as Juggler, who won this race in 1996, Grand Armee, who finished second in 2004, and Desert War.
“He’s just like those horses. You can serve it up to him and he cops it on the chin just like them. He loves racing and galloping,” she said.
Mick Price, who trains I’m Thunderstruck, said he was looking for his galloper to settle closer in the early stages of the race, saying it was too hard for his horse to be giving the leaders six to eight lengths start.
I’m Thunderstruck is among the leading contenders on Saturday.Credit:Getty Images
Speaking on RSN on Thursday morning, Price also suggested Alligator Blood could win as he was the perfect horse for weight-for-age races, adding he could control the speed and had the ability to kick away.
Favourite in the Might And Power Stakes and the Cox Plate is the James Cummings-trained and Godolphin-owned Anamoe and the trainer is confident he will run a big race.
Anamoe hasn’t started since winning the group 1 George Main Stakes three weeks ago at Randwick and he’ll be ridden by James McDonald.
“He’s had an uncomplicated three weeks since his last start and he’s feeling well. That run in the George Main [Stakes, 1600 metres] topped him off beautifully to be stepping up to 2000,” Cummings said.
Cummings won his first Caulfield Guineas last year when Anamoe was successful and he has the favourite with PointsBet on Saturday with Golden Mile, who is a $2.70 chance.
Cummings said when Golden Mile finished fourth at his last start in the Golden Rose behind Jaquinot “he didn’t quite get it right.”
On that occasion Golden Mile hit the front with 400 to go and wanted to lay in in the straight. He was still in front at the 100 metres mark but tired to finish just behind the placegetters.
Cummings, however, pointed out it was a strong edition of the Golden Rose.
“The horse was found wanting by less than 1.5 lengths to a very, very good horse in Jacquinot, who flew like an absolute machine to win on the line against our filly, In Secret, who we regard as an elite three-year-old filly,” Cummings said.
Golden Mile will also be ridden by James McDonald and will start from barrier five.
