All-Star Blood feud is averted

A LAST-MINUTE gesture from the Melbourne Racing Club was enough for Alligator Blood’s part-owner Allan Endresz to stop him scratching the Queensland superstar from the All-Star Mile today.

Yesterday afternoon a furious Endresz threatened to withdraw the $2.60 favourite from the $5 million race when it became apparent there would be a lockout at the meeting due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The NSW-based Endresz was irate that his wife Joy could not watch the horse run and during the afternoon said he favoured scratching him.

He said as she had terminal cancer she should have preference to go and watch Alligator Blood run.

Endresz met other syndicate members at 4.30pm and it was only an offer from the MRC to set aside a room for 80 people at a function room adjacent to the racetrack that swayed him to run the star.

“Racing Victoria and the Melbourne Racing Club have given Joy a big lift with their offer of setting aside a room so she can be with family and friends,” Endresz said.

“It’s been a very tense afternoon. We’ve had meetings and a lockdown with the owners.

“The great news is Racing Victoria and the MRC have given Joy a big lift as they’ve provided us with a venue for the 80 family and friends. He looks a treat and I’m predicting dominance.”

MRC chief executive Josh Blanksby said on SEN that they had contacted Endresz with the offer.

“We’re lucky enough to have a pub on course with a function room so we offered that to Allan and his family and friends.”

Alligator Blood, the winner of 10 of his 11 starts including the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast in January, has built up a cult following across Australia.

The Caloundra-trained horse will be ridden by Gold Coast jockey Ryan Maloney.