Vandyke nervous for Alligator

Talented gelding Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) will kick off his spring in the XXXX Dry Open Quality H. at Doomben on Saturday but trainer David Vandyke admits he is nervous to have him back at the races.

"This is a bit different to most Saturdays for me and I'm a little nervous," Vandyke said.

The G1 Australian Guineas winner hasn’t raced since finishing 10th in the All-Star Mile but connections are eyeing a slot in the $15 million The Everest for the popular gelding.

"We haven't got a slot yet for The Everest, but I wouldn't deny his owner the chance to run in the world's richest race on turf even though I'm not in love with the idea of heading that way," Vandyke said.

"If he doesn't get a slot, he'll go for The Silver Eagle first before The Golden Eagle."

Childs to grasp Dalasan chance

Jordan Childs is hoping that landing the ride on Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}) in the G1 Maybe Diva S. on Saturday can make up for losing the ride on G1 Melbourne Cup hope Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) this spring.

"Obviously it was disappointing to lose the ride on Surprise Baby, but it's great to pick up the ride on Dalasan in the Makybe Diva," Childs told Racing.com.

"If he runs well for me and I can do a good job and get him to run to his best, I'd definitely like to stick with him for the rest of the carnival.”

Cups kick off

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s G1 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup hopes Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) and The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) will begin their spring campaigns at Flemington on Saturday.

G1 Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker will contest the G1 Makybe Diva S., while year older stablemate The Chosen One steps out over 1700 metres in the Winning Edge Presentations H.

Michael Dee will ride both horses and Baker is pleased with the reports from travelling foreman Aleisha Legg, with the duo ensconced in the visitors’ barn at Flemington.

“They’ve settled in pretty well and the fact they have been there before is a big help,” Baker said. “They’re in the same boxes as last year.

“I am picking that both of them will need the run, but we are pleased with where they are at.

“We will see how they go on Saturday and then make a plan, but there are plenty of options in Melbourne in the spring.”

Dunn out for spring

After fracturing his C6 vertebrae in a freak barrier accident last Saturday, Dwayne Dunn will be out of the saddle for a minimum of six weeks, meaning he will miss the spring carnival.

"It looks like six to eight weeks," Dunn told Racing.com. "I've got another x-ray on the 23rd of this month to see how it's healing, but that's the spring for me.

"It's right at the wrong time, but you always take your health.

"(They were) not the words I wanted to hear but I will cop it on the chin."

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Behemoth to jump out

G1 Memsie S. winner Behemoth (All Too Hard) is set to jump out at Murray Bridge on Thursday to keep him ticking over ahead of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. next Saturday.

"As he gears up for a return to Melbourne and Caulfield for a crack at another Group 1 in Saturday week's Sir Rupert Clarke S., he will just probably need one more significant hitout," trainer David Jolly told Racing.com.

"He hasn't done a great deal since the Memsie win, just worked a bit of evens a couple of times.

"It has really just been maintenance work with him, ticking him over and keeping him happy and I'm pleased to report he is in great order.

"Travelling-wise we will follow the same formula as last time and he will head across on the Thursday night before his race to Colin Little at Caulfield.

"I know there has been some talk about a possible Everest mission with him, but Melbourne remains our focus at this stage.

"He's obviously high up in the market for the Sir Rupert Clarke and the feature mile races like the Toorak and Cantala.

"We have also just paid up the second acceptance with him for the Cox Plate."

Begg to wait with Nonconformist

Grahame Begg has decided not to run his G1 Caulfield Cup contender Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) this weekend after the gelding produced bloods that weren’t 100 per cent right.

"His blood picture wasn't 100 per cent spot on, so I decided to wait," Begg told Racing.com.

"He's going to run again in a couple of weeks.

"It's not a setback, it's just we weren't 100 per cent happy. He won't miss too much.”

Julius in doubt

Group 1-winning sprinter Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) is a doubtful runner in Saturday week’s G1 Tarzino Trophy.

The 9-year-old gelding finished seventh in the G2 Foxbridge Plate last weekend at Te Rapa but is under a fitness cloud.

“He didn’t come out of the Foxbridge Plate particularly well,” trainer John Bell said.

“All four fetlocks are red raw, the back ones especially are really quite bad. To go into a Group 1 race you need to be 100 per cent and to do that by Saturday week is not looking good.”

Impressive win

Then Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly Escudo (NZ) (El Roca) was an impressive winner at Matamata on Wednesday, taking out the Gcm Feeds Maiden S. by 1.3l.

“It was pleasing how she settled well and quickened in what looked to be an even little field,” Scott said.

“The way she quickened, she looks like she will get over further, which is probably a necessity as a 3-year-old going forward into the season."

Rushing Fall Fasig-Tipton bound

Six-time Grade I winner Rushing Fall (USA) (More Than Ready {USA})–winner of all three of her starts in 2020, including Saratoga’s G1 Diana S. and Keeneland’s G1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley S.–will be offered at Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale, scheduled for November 8 in Kentucky.

She will be consigned on behalf of the Edward family’s Five Racing Thoroughbreds by Indian Creek, as agent.

“Rushing Fall is one of the more brilliant turf females we have seen in some time, compiling a near perfect record in capturing her division’s most prestigious and competitive races,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “She is a true collector’s item, and we are honoured that the Edwards Family has entrusted her sale to Fasig-Tipton.”

Breeders’ Cup bid

Shadwell’s speedy multiple Group 1 winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is being considered for a start in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on November 7, if he exits the October 4 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye in good form.

A winner of the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot in June, he took out his fourth G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on July 31 and won the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York on August 21.

“He’s only had three runs this year,” said trainer Charlie Hills to Sky Sports Racing. “He’s fresh, he’s well and is in great shape. I couldn’t be more pleased with how Battaash is training.

“He looks very proud at what he is doing. His enthusiasm levels are great. As long as the ground stays reasonably good for France then that’s where we’ll go.”