Hurt Alligator Blood future in doubt
Trainer Gai Waterhouse admits she doesn’t know for sure if Alligator Blood will ever race again after her much-loved champion sustained a serious injury.
Racenet on Monday broke news that the seven-time Group 1 winner was out for the autumn and faced an uncertain future after being diagnosed with a pastern injury following a trial at Rosehill last week.
Waterhouse, who co-trains with Adrian Bott, later confirmed her star would be sidelined for 12 months.
“He will be out for a year and we are still hoping he may come back and race again,” Waterhouse said.
“He will have a lot of rehab in that time then hopefully he will come back to take on the best of the best. He will be monitored throughout very closely.”
Alligator Blood is now seven years old and Waterhouse, asked if there was any certainty the star horse would race again, replied:
“I don’t know if he will race again,” she said.
“But one thing I do know, for racing fans, is that he won’t be seen again until 2025.
“Everyone is sad, he is such a special horse. I have probably only ever had one or two horses this good. Most horses never win a Group 1 and to win that many, it’s just magical.
“Now, he just needs rest.” Alligator Blood had been set to resume in the Group 1 Orr Stakes at Caulfield next month and was to target other elite races such as the Futurity Stakes and All-Star Mile before returning to Sydney where the options included the rich Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Alligator Blood’s regular sparring partner Mr Brightside is now set to start a clear fancy in those blockbuster races.
Last October, Waterhouse told Racenet that Alligator Blood could be mentioned in the same breath as her two former turf icons Grand Armee and Juggler.
Grand Armee won seven Group 1s – the same as Alligator Blood.
“Alligator Blood reminds me a lot of Juggler who had similar features and both have an amazing ability to roll up the sleeves and punch, punch, punch,” Waterhouse said at the time.