Alligator Blood used 2022 to establish himself as one of Australia best gallopers and the gelding’s trainers are now eyeing off the country’s richest 1600-metre event with the tenacious on-pacer.
Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said the six-year-old had embraced life back at their Flemington stable and was tracking well towards the $5 million All Star Mile.
“He’s returned to training in Melbourne, he’s back to his familiar routine and there’s obviously a relatively quick turnaround from the spring but he looks to have done well in the time out he’s had,” Bott said.
“He’s got a great appetite and constitution for work, he really thrives on his work and I think he needs a high level of work to keep him up to the mark.
“We’re really only looking to give him a relatively light autumn campaign solely based around the All-Star Mile.”
Alligator Blood won the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at his most recent appearance, which followed fifth placings at around 2000m in the Cox Plate and The Might And Power, having earlier won the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
The son of All Too Hard also had a narrow Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) second placing in spring, having won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in Brisbane earlier in 2022.
It was a year of reestablishment for the gelding after a couple of seasons in the wilderness following his memorable Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) win as a three-year-old.
All Too Hard is likely to have a couple of couple of 1400-metre lead-up runs before tackling the All-Star Mile, which this year will be run at The Valley on March 18.
“Obviously the 1400 metres to mile has proven to be his ideal trip, we probably don’t really need to test too much outside those boundaries this preparation,” Bott said.
“You have got those weight-for-age lead ups traditionally, being the Orr and Futurity, which are the likely kick-off points for him. They look to fit in well with the program for the All-Star Mile.”