Alligator Blood Lands Australian Guineas

David Vandyke opted not to label the Feb. 29 Kennedy Australian Guineas (G1) winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) a 'champion' despite a stirring victory, his 10th from just 11 starts, in Flemington's AU$1 million feature for 3-year-olds. 

However, the gelding—who became the first group 1 winner for Vinery Stud stallion All Too Hard, having been beaten a nose by Super Seth in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (G1) last October—is likely to get his chance to earn such a tag. An alternative career does not beckon, with owner Allan Endresz confirming the 3-year-old's future lies in Australia, despite having received numerous overseas offers for his star turn. 

An on-going local racing future is also likely to await the Bob Peters-owned runner-up Superstorm, who is also a gelding. He returned the quickest closing sectionals on his first run outside Western Australia, but he was unable to overhaul the front-running Alligator Blood, who defied some early pressure—which was best labeled as an inconvenience—from 300-1 outsider Commodus.

"Look, that was just amazing," Vandyke said. "Wow, he just won with authority. He did it for Queensland, his owners, his sire All Too Hard, and for (jockey) Ryan (Maloney). It was an amazing performance at group 1 level in a top-class field.

"You know you can't quantify guts, you can look at his form and think where he should finish but his determination and will to win is incredible. 

"He was softened up a bit early but didn't he want to win? Yes he did. I do plenty of things wrong as a trainer but this bloke makes me look good, he's special. I'm not going to call him a champion but he's a champion to me."

Ryan Maloney was able to control the terms of the race even though the maiden, Commodus, looked to pose an early threat as he pushed forward. The first 1,000-meter split of 1.10.40 was relaxed for this level and Maloney secured two comfortable splits from the 1,000 meters to the 600 meters, which sealed the victory. 

"What a way to do it (win a first group 1) on this horse, for these owners and back at home at headquarters," Maloney said. 

"He was softened up a little bit early. I was happy to let Alabama Express go, but I knew the maiden (Commodus) would keep going forward and I didn't want to follow a maiden, so I had to use him a little bit. But he's thrived since the Hayes (Stakes) and I can't believe how easy he won."

Maloney, a former Victorian who moved to Queensland in 2018, was understandably delighted with his first elite-level win given a series of setbacks before and after the relocation. 

"It was life changing," Maloney said of the move. "I wouldn't have found him (Alligator Blood) if I didn't go to Queensland. 

"Eighteen months ago I had the worst day at the races I've ever had and today I've had the best one. I want to thank my wife (Shaylee), she's been a rock."

Maloney was suspended for four months after a positive test for a banned stimulant at Caulfield in March 2018. That was not long after he lost the ride aboard Nature Strip, on whom he had won three successive races.

He suffered four broken ribs and a punctured lung in a fall at Doomben in December 2018 and sustained further significant injuries in a fall at the Sunshine Coast in April last year. 

Despite those hiccoughs he's now entrenched in the top three riders in Queensland and is challenging for the state's metropolitan premiership this season. 

Maloney's ride drew praise from his sidelined colleague, multiple group 1 winner Corey Brown. 

"I just keep going back to Ryan Maloney, a great ride. He kept a level head," Brown said on Racing.com. 

While the early machinations of the race implied pressure, it was the lack of great speed that underpinned how well Superstorm performed. Indeed, the early tempo thwarted plenty others, including the New Zealander Catalyst, who ran sixth, and the fourth-placed Chenier who clipped heels and almost fell mid-race.

Catalyst's trainer Clayton Chipperfield said: "It wasn't run to suit. They went slower and slower and he got a little bit lost. If we push on to the All-Star Mile, we'll put the hood (blinkers) back on and the pace will be more true you'd think against the seasoned milers."

Catalyst's rider Damian Lane concurred.

"The race shape turned out terrible for him. The outsider (Commodus) going forward and really backing off the tempo from outside the lead really put us in a sticky spot," he said. 

"I had to let him stride in the race early. He just raced a little greenly when I asked him and without a horse close to him to chase, like last start, I just feel he didn't lengthen as well. We'll see how he pulls up and go from there, but it may be that he needs the blinkers back on."

Damien Oliver was prepared to be forgiving of Chenier's performance. He said: "He just got flattened. He did a good job to pick himself up and still ran a good race. It was unfortunate."

Michael Dee described the performance of Neds C.F. Orr Stakes (G1) winner Alabama Express as "too bad to be true." The stewards report noted that a post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities with the son of Redoute's Choice. 

The Ken Keys-trained Soul Patch tracked the winner and ran soundly to finish third given his preference for more ground. An Alpine Eagle half sister to Soul Patch is being offered at the Jan. 30 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. She is cataloged as Lot 188.

Alligator Blood has now won AU$2,810,084 in prize-money and has recorded eight wins this season, in which he has raced in every month bar November. Meanwhile, All Too Hard also produced group 2 winner Dawn Dawn and listed winner Hard Rock Girl.

Alligator Blood was bought by the Ezybonds No.1 Syndicate for AU$55,000 (US$43,038) from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale after being passed in.

He is one of two winners for the unraced Lake Superior, who is a half sister to listed winner Cantonese and the stakes-placed duo of Chateau Margaux and Monteaux.

Alligator Blood's third dam is Tracy's Element (Last Tycoon), who is the dam of the 2009/10 Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy.

Redemption for Probabeel

Star New Zealand filly Probabeel landed a well-deserved maiden win in elite company Saturday when she took out the Heineken 3 Surround Stakes (G1) at Randwick, the first leg of a group 1 double for Jamie Richards and Te Akau Racing. 

The Karaka Million 3YO Classic winner campaigned in Sydney during last year's spring carnival, finishing second to Funstar in the Darley Tea Rose Stakes (G2) and the Darley Flight Stakes (G1).

But the filly, who is raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, turned the tables on the Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old, motoring home from well-back in the field with 300 meters to go to defeat her by a neck. Xilong was a further half-length away in third. 

"I thought we were in a spot of bother on the corner, she was under the pump, but to her credit she really found the line well and she's a very exciting filly," Richards said.

"I knew she had to be somewhere near her absolute best in a good-quality race like this but full credit to the team at home for sending her over in such good order.

"I'm so thrilled to get a winner in these colors for Brendan and Jo." 

Looking ahead with the filly, Richards continued: "She's going to improve a bit further again as soon as we get up in trip. She'll go to the Phar Lap (G2) then into the Vinery (G1). She's got a group 1 now."

Leading New Zealand jockey Bosson echoed the thoughts of Richards, admitting he also had some concerns during the race.

"I just got myself into a little bit of a pocket and hit a bit of a flat spot," he said.

"I'm just lucky enough that this filly was good enough to get me out of it.

"Otherwise, I didn't want to be coming back in that's for sure. Just turning in she lost it until we straightened up.

"All credit to Jamie. He does an amazing job with his horses and it's good to get a group 1 winner here in Australia for connections."

Purchased by David Ellis for NZ$380,000 (US$279,300) out of the Waikato Stud draft at the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale in 2018, Probabeel has won six of her 12 starts, running second on a further three occasions, for prize-money of AU$1,529,256. 

She is the first foal out of the late stakes-performed mare Far Fetched (Pins), who was a three-quarter sister to Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude (G2) and Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes (G3) winner Legless Veuve as well as TBV Mannerism Stakes (G3) winner and The Oaks Stud Telegraph Handicap (G1) runner-up Tootsie. 

Probabeel is also from the same family as group 2 scorer Ocean Emperor and dual group 1 winner Savvy Coup , who was crowned New Zealand's champion 3-year-old in 2017-18.

She became her Waikato Stud-based sire Savabeel's 18th individual group 1 winner. 

'Shark' Salutes in Chipping Norton

Fan Favorite Te Akau Shark came from the clouds to land his first Australian elite-level win in the TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) at Randwick Saturday.

Under regular rider Opie Bosson, the 5-year-old gelding raced in fourth-last position before flying home in the straight to win by half a length over the Chris Waller-trained Verry Elleegant, with the ever-consistent Fierce Impact a further 1 1/4 lengths away in third.

"He's something special, isn't he," Jamie Richards said. "They only went steady (pace) but he was good late and is a very, very exciting horse.

"I said to Opie, 'Don't be as far back as you were on Probabeel,' but he ended back in a sticky spot. But, when he gets onto his outside leg and gets a bit of clear air, he can really charge late.

"As I said about Probabeel before, full credit to the team at home who have sent these horses over in such good order. Ashley Handley, who is here looking after them, would spend day and night with them if we let her, so a big thank you to her. 

"And David Ellis, who bought him at the Ready to Run Sale and got all these wonderful owners involved. Hopefully we're in for an exciting campaign."

Asked what sets Te Akau Shark apart, Richards said: "He's got a bit of arrogance about him, a bit grumpy. He's not a fantastic eater. He's not a big, strong horse with a big barrel on him. He's pretty lean and mean and he's got a bit trickier, I think."

Te Akau Shark's victory was the second leg of a group 1 double for Richards and Te Akau Racing, a milestone which Te Akau principal David Ellis was absolutely thrilled with.

"It's hard to describe what this day means to Te Akau, all our owners, and the whole New Zealand racing industry," said Ellis, who was speaking from Ellerslie having overseen the victory of Te Akau Shark's stablemate Star of Bombay in the Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes.

"Everybody wins from our horses Probabeel and Te Akau Shark winning these group 1 races. In Australia, they don't rate the New Zealand form, but, hello, you're on a different planet to me.

"Both of these horses went so close to winning group 1 races during the spring in Australia, and their unbeaten lead-up form before heading back over was quite unbelievable. 

"You have to take wins on their merits, whether they are in Australia or New Zealand, and those pundits that didn't rate it need to have a close look at just how they won. They were exceptional efforts and the reason why they were both strongly supported in the overall betting." 

Ellis continued: "Our (New Zealand) horses punch well above their weight. We have a foal crop under 3,500 while the Australian foal crop is five-times that amount. And this business of the Asian Racing Conference wanting to reduce the status of our group 1 and group 2 races is absolute nonsense, and today proves that beyond all doubt."

Te Akau Shark, who was bought by Ellis for NZ$230,000 (US$163,323) at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2-Year-Olds, has won seven of his 12 starts and prize-money of AU$1,312,290.

He is the best-performed and first stakes winner from three to race for the group 2 scorer Bak Da Chief, who is a half sister to Bak Da Princess, herself the mother of Pondarosa Miss and Ecuador.

Bak Da Chief has a yearling colt by Redwood, who is cataloged as Lot 343 at next month's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was covered again by Rip Van Winkle last year.

Sherwood Forest Causes Upset in New Zealand Derby

The Tony Pike-trained Sherwood Forest caused an upset victory at Ellerslie Saturday when he took out the Vodafone New Zealand Derby (G1).

Returning to his homeland after winning the Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) last weekend, Michael Walker had Sherwood Forest leading around the final turn before he was passed by equal-favorites Two Illicit and Dragon Leap. 

The son of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) was able to dig deep and find a second wind in the final stages of the race to come back and win by 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Two Illicit, with Scorpz a further two lengths away in third. 

"He just outstayed them," Pike said. "The last few races he's been running in have been a little bit too sharp for him but I've always thought he would come into his own over 2,400 meters.

"It's a fantastic result and hugely satisfying.

"He was a bit of a ratbag as a 2-year-old but the team have put in a lot of work with him and this season was always going to be about the Derby. It's great when a plan comes off."

Pike said the Australian Derby (G1) on April 4 at Randwick is now a likely option for his group 1-winning 3-year-old.

Yesterday's win continued a remarkable month for Walker, who had been close to retirement because of ongoing injuries.

"Five weeks ago I was going to give it away," Walker said.

"I was too heavy and getting sick of all the injuries. I've had 13 operations on my left hip, including a hip replacement.

"But I decided to stick with it and I've been very fortunate to have these results. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to come home and ride this horse.

"He gave me an amazing ride. He's such a gentleman and everything I asked for, he gave.

"You have to be the best staying horse to win this race and Tony gave me confidence that I was riding that horse."

Purchased for AU$100,000 (US$78,910) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by New Zealand Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft, Sherwood Forest runs for his breeders Goodson & Perron Family Trust in partnership with Calder Bloodstock and Deborah Martin. He has won four of 11 starts, earning NZ$737,875 in prize-money.

He was foaled and raised at Coolmore Stud and is a brother to stakes-winner Royal Ocean being from Chasing Mammon (Giant's Causeway), who herself is a half sister to stakes-winner Zelsnitz.

Sherwood Forest is also from the family of dual group 1 winner and European sire Holy Roman Emperor.

Chasing Mammon has a yearling colt by Starspangledbanner, a weanling colt by Merchant Navy, and is now in foal to Saxon Warrior.

Sherwood Forest is the 38th group 1 winner for Fastnet Rock, who has four lots cataloged at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, which kicks off at Oaklands at 10 a.m. local time Sunday.