Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
A switch in tactics saw Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) earn his sixth Group 1 title in the Underwood S. at Caulfield, handing a 129th Group 1 to Damien Oliver in his final spring in the saddle.
Chris Waller's talented mare Espiona (Extreme Choice) found the winner’s circle for the first time since claiming the G1 Coolmore Classic in the autumn in Saturday’s G2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill. Waller indicated that she may run in The Everest if he doesn't find a stronger contender in the meantime.
Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was a dominant winner of Saturday’s MRC Foundation Cup (2000 metres). Victory secured him a golden ticket to next month’s G1 Caulfield Cup, as he led home a one-two for Seymour Bloodstock.
‘Gator goes back-to-back for sixth Group 1
The resurgent Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) earned his sixth Group 1 title in the Underwood S. at Caulfield, becoming the first horse since Northerly (Serheed {USA}) (2001/02) to win back-to-back renewals of the race.
Just a week after he contested the G1 Makybe Diva S., it was a contrast to his often-adopted front-running tactics as he was initially held in behind horses, and eventually took up a position behind the lead of Alanquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}).
But the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trainee showed typical tenacity and saw off Tuvalu (Kermadec) by 1l, with Duais (Shamus Award) 0.2l back in third.
“She (Waterhouse) was adamant that she wanted him to lead, but I just felt that on his back today he was a little bit quieter in the seven day back-up and he wasn’t as sharp today,” jockey Damien Oliver said.
After twice changing trainers, Alligator Blood joined Tulloch Lodge in 2022, and at just his second start in the new stable landed co-trainer Gai Waterhouse her 150th Group 1 in the Stradbroke H. Now a 7-year-old, the gelding was also at the centre of a much-publisized controversy over his former owner Allan Endresz, who was ultimately banned from ownership in Victoria last year.
Now running in the colours of Gerry Harvey, the Alligator Blood story grew richer on Saturday, not least as he provided outgoing star Damien Oliver with his 129th Group 1 in what will be his final spring in the saddle.
Alligator Blood, winner of the G1 Underwood S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s not going to go out without a bang, is he,” Waterhouse said of Oliver, who also partnered Northerly to win his first Underwood more than two decades ago.
“So many people are here to see Alligator Blood, it’s so lovely that he could deliver.”
Waterhouse went on to indicate that the G1 Turnbull S. may be Alligator Blood’s lead-up race for the G1 Cox Plate, though discussions will continue.
Espiona to represent Waller in The Everest?
The quirky but hugely talented Espiona (Extreme Choice) found the winner’s circle for the first time since claiming the G1 Coolmore Classic in the autumn in Saturday’s G2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill.
The 5-year-old mare, ridden by Nash Rawiller, was a class above her rivals in the valuable 1400-metre event for the fillies and mares.
Running into second to complete a Chris Waller quinella was the Group 1 winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), whilst Banana Queen (So You Think {NZ}) rounded out the places.
Chris Waller Racing holds a slot in the $20 million The Everest, and the trainer indicated that Espiona might yet fill it; “If we can't find a better one, she'll be there,” Waller said.
Espiona, winner of the G2 Golden Pendant on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Rawiller commented on Espiona’s habit of galloping with her head on the side at times, a trait that also has her trainer stumped as to why she continues to do so despite several gear changes.
“She looks at the stands, at the winning post. It’s like she’s looking for her mother up in the stands, but what a motor she’s got,” Rawiller told Racing NSW.
“I don’t really care about her quirks, as long as she lets down like that when you ask her. She’s just a very talented mare.”
“I don’t really care about her (Espiona) quirks, as long as she lets down like that when you ask her. She’s just a very talented mare.” - Nash Rawiller
Thirty minutes later Rawiller was back celebrating another feature success when he took out the G2 Shannon S. aboard the Matthew Dunn-trained Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
The 6-year-old imported galloper has been racing in fine form this preparation and went to a new level when defeating Williamsburg (Snitzel) and Waterford (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}).
Later in the afternoon, Sea The Stars (Ire) enjoyed a stakes double courtesy of Uncle Bryn’s efforts at Caulfield.
Uncle Bryn back and Cup bound
Surging clear in the final stages, Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was a dominant winner of Saturday’s MRC Foundation Cup (2000 metres), with victory securing him a golden ticket to next month’s G1 Caulfield Cup.
After finishing eighth on return this season in the G2 PB Lawrence S., Uncle Bryn was a disappointing 11th in the Listed Heatherlie S. last time. But, there was no doubting his return to form on Saturday as he left Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) 2.25l in his wake, much to the relief of his co-trainer Trent Busuttin.
“I’ve been telling everyone he’s a good horse for 12 months and he hasn’t come up to it,” said Busuttin, who trains alongside Natalie Young.
Uncle Bryn (GB), winner of the G3 MRC Foundation Cup on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I said that if he didn’t win today, I’m done. If he didn’t win, I don’t know where we’d go.”
A 6-year-old gelding, the imported Uncle Bryn is now a $26 chance for next month’s feature race, and may yet be one of two runners for Seymour Bloodstock. Also in the navy blue jacket with white sash, Floating Artist’s placing means he has now passed the first ballot clause and is close to a guaranteed run for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
