Endresz in court wait
THE racing future of crowd favourite Alligator Blood hinges on an upcoming court ruling over his now-disqualified Magic Millions victory, with officials sweating on the result expected to be handed down in the coming fortnight.
Racing Australia recently followed New South Wales by introducing new rules banning undischarged bankrupts from owning horses anywhere in the country, ruling out polarising Allan Endresz, a part-owner in Alligator Blood through his Ezybonds No 1 syndicate.
The Racing Australia rule, however, can be applied at the discretion of each racing authority, leaving Racing Queensland with a decision to make.
“Challenges have previously been faced when seeking to restrict certain persons from being owners in order to protect racing’s integrity,” Racing Australia said in its summary.
It is understood Racing Queensland will not make a decision on the matter until after a Supreme Court decision is handed down in a case involving Endresz, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and Racing Queensland over the 2019 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. Racing Australia introduced the rules on May 6, in the expectation the Supreme Court would hand down its ruling last week.
However, a delay has seen it pushed back to mid-may.
After being banned from racing in New South Wales, Endresz made the call to send Alligator Blood back to Queensland to be aimed at the winter carnival, where he will still be trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, but out of Sunshine Coast trainer Billy Healey’s property instead.
The five-year-old was expected to trial on Tuesday morning.
However, heavy rain will cause a reshuffle to his plans, with connections indicating they will head to the Group 1 Kingsford-smith Cup (1300m), before going on to the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Meanwhile, Mick Price will change tact with Ayrton following his belowpar run in the Hollindale Stakes against Zaaki on Saturday.
After originally planning to go on to the Doomben Cup and rich Q22, Price says he will now pay the $9000 late nomination fee to get his boom fouryear-old in the Stradbroke Handicap.