Saturday summary: Not a dry eye in the house as Alligator Blood wins the Stradbroke

16 min read
Emotions were running high at Eagle Farm on Saturday, as Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) added a second elite-level race to his CV when he landed the G1 Stradbroke H., providing Gai Waterhouse - who now trains with Adrian Bott - a first win in the Group 1 and her 150th top-flight triumph overall.

Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

Race-Day Recap

Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) handed his owner Allan Endresz an emotional win in the G1 Stradbroke H., and in the process also provided Gai Waterhouse - who now trains with Adrian Bott - a first win in the Group 1 and her 150th Group 1 win overall.

A star was born at Eagle Farm on Saturday when the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) became the first filly since 2009 to win the G1 JJ Atkins S. and in doing so became the first Group 1 winner for her now Widden Stud-based sire Gold Standard.

Annabel Neasham is making G2 The Q22 race her own having landed the inaugural edition with Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in 2021 and on Saturday she added a second win in the Eagle Farm race to her ever-growing CV when Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) dominated proceedings in the Group 2.

Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible may have etched an unassailable lead in the race to be crowned Australia’s Champion Sire, but Coolmore’s So You Think (NZ) looks like he will continue to bang in more winners before the season is out and he once again added to his season’s tally on Saturday when the Chris Munce-trained Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}) took out the G2 Dane Ripper S. at Eagle Farm.

Trainer Tracey Bartley is not ruling out a crack at the Golden Eagle for Kiss Sum (Shamus Award) after he showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the G3 Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday and in doing so also provided his Rosemont Stud-based sire Shamus Award with his 19th stakes winner.

Aquis Farm-based first-season sire Jukebox was handed his best day since he retired to the breeding barn when the Barry Lockwood-trained Johnny Rocker (Jukebox) produced an ultra impressive performance to win the Listed Oxlade S. at Eagle Farm.

Second Group 1 for Alligator

Owned by ​​Allan Endresz, who was not at the Queensland track on Saturday, instead choosing to stay by his wife Joy’s bedside as she continues her battle with terminal bowel cancer.

Alligator Blood’s turbulent career has been well-documented, but he signalled he was in the type of form that saw him take out the 2020 edition of the G1 Australian Guineas when running second in the G2 BRC Sprint on May 28, his first start for his new trainers Waterhouse and Bott.

Tim Clark placed Alligator Blood in the middle of the pack and after coming wide round the turn, Clark asked the son of All Too Hard for his effort and he responded impressively to scamper away with the victory, beating Private Eye (Al Maher) by a 1l. Long-time leader Rothfire (Rothesay) was another 1.75l away in third.

150 Group 1s for Waterhouse

Neil Paine - stable representative for Waterhouse and Bott - said it was brilliant to see the gelding back to his best.

"Incredible for Gai and Adrian - 150 Group 1s for Gai now, Adrian and Gai round about 18 or 20 Group 1s. Gai’s first Stradbroke and Alligator Blood back to his best,” said Paine.

“As has been well-documented over the last year or two the horse has had problems. But Gai and Adrian, the staff back at Randwick and also up here in Brisbane have worked overtime to get this horse right.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

“I was telling the owners before he’s just such a happy horse and a great horse to do anything with. We’re rapt that we’ve got him and he’s come back to his best."

Paine said they had high-hopes ahead of Alligator Blood’s run on Saturday.

“We were a bit wary first-up two weeks ago but when he put that run on the board, he had improved so much since. Tim Clark came up and rode him on Tuesday and said this horse is flying.

Neil Paine and Tim Clark | Image courtesy of Michael McInally

“He looked a treat in the yard, it’s just incredible that Gai and Adrian could get him back to where he is.”

Clark - who was also enjoying his first win in the time-honoured Group 1 - described the victory as ‘very special.’

"He began well but as expected there was a fair bit of tempo and not only did I not have the horse to be in that speed battle, I knew if I attempted to be with them I'd have nothing left at the end," Clark said.

"So, I was able to slide across back in behind them and it ended up working out lovely. I got the back of Ayrton and that horse took me everywhere I needed to go.

Alligator Blood | Image courtesy of Michael McInally

"On straightening it was a matter of just being patient, letting him build through his gears and I thought all he has to do is find off the bridle.

"He showed a great turn of foot. I haven't had a lot to do with the horse's career but that was a pretty special performance."

More breeding success for Harvey

Purchased by his owner for $55,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Baramul Stud, Alligator Blood is out of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Lake Superior and she is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Cantonese (Redoute’s Choice) as well as stakes-placed duo Chateau Margaux (Redoute’s Choice) and Monteux (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).

Further back, this is the same family as Group 1-winning mare Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) and Listed winner Red Element (Red Ransom {USA}).

Gerry Harvey | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Alligator Blood is one of four Group 1 winners for All Too Hard and he stands at Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley where his fee in 2022 has been set at $38,500 (inc GST). The Group 1 win spearheaded a brilliant day for the stallion, who sired another four winners elsewhere.

Alligator Blood’s victory adds another dimension to Gerry Harvey’s wonderful season as a breeder and gelding becomes the second Group 1 winner bred by the Magic Millions supremo, joining G1 South Australian Derby winner Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).

Meanwhile, Harvey enjoyed a stakes double on the day having also bred Ranges (Shooting To Win), who landed the Listed Hinkler H. at Eagle Farm which takes Harvey’s total number of stakes winners he has bred this season to 16, a tally which is only bettered by Godolphin Australia who sit on 27.

Sheeza Belter breaks fillies' drought in JJ Atkins

A star was born at Eagle Farm on Saturday when the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) became the first filly since 2009 to win the G1 JJ Atkins S. and in doing so became the first Group 1 winner for her now Widden Stud-based sire Gold Standard.

Last seen winning the G2 Sires’ Produce S. on May 28, the filly scooted clear inside the final 100 metres to beat last-start Listed The Phoenix winner Political Debate (So You Think {NZ}) by 0.4l. Brosnan (Snitzel) was another 0.1l away in third.

The last filly to win the time-honoured Group was the Peter Robl-trained Linky Dink (NZ) (Keeper) in 2009.

Sheeza Belter (white cap) wins the G1 JJ Atkins | Image courtesy of Michael McInally

A winner of two of her three starts when trained by Luke Fernie and they included a victory in the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic, Sheeza Belter was having her fourth start for Peter and Paul Snowden having run 10th in the G2 Percy Sykes S. and third in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, before her Group 2 triumph two weeks ago.

This latest win continues the dominant form of the Snowden stable at the Queensland Carnival, with Sheeza Belter providing the father and son duo with their third Group 1 winner of the winter, with the pair having sent out Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) to win the G1 Doomben 10,000, while they also saddled Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) to victory in the G1 Doomben Cup.

The triumph also provided jockey William Pike his second Group 1 of the carnival with the star rider having steered Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) to victory in last week's G1 Queensland Oaks.

Paul Snowden told Sky Racing owner Justin Warwick - who purchased the filly for $50,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale last year - called up the stable and said he was sending the filly to them to train.

Sheeza Belter as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

“Justin Warwick called up out of the blue. We took another horse he had in Perth and set it up in Victoria and had some good success. It stemmed from there really,” said Snowden.

“He said, ‘This filly has just won the Magic Millions over here, we think she’s pretty good, we want you to take her.’

“(Justin) is here today, which is great, so full credit to him. We’re just the benefactors of that.

“She’s always been tough and resilient at home, she cops the work. Everything about her suggested she is going to get to that really good level and here we are today (Saturday)."

Snowden also confirmed the filly would now head for a break and big targets could lie in wait for the daughter of Gold Standard in the spring.

“We’ll get her out and give her a break on Monday but she’s got a really good spring ahead of her now.”

William Pike and Paul Snowden | Image courtesy of Michael McInally

Bred by Craig Thompson’s Mt Hallowell Stud, who also raced her sire Gold Standard, Sheeza Belter is one of three winners out of dual-winning mare Saxabelle (Saxon).

Saxabelle is a half-sister to Special Kiseki (Special Bond) - the dam of dual Group 3 winner Special Reward (Demerit).

In 2020, Saxabelle produced a colt by More Than Ready (USA), now called Heeza Bolter, and he is yet to hit a racetrack. Most recently, the mare has been covered by Aquis Farm-based sire Brave Smash (Jpn).

First-season sire Gold Standard is represented by two winners - including Sheeza Belter - from five starters and having begun life at Spendthrift Farm in Victoria, he will stand at Widden Stud’s Victorian arm in 2022 for an increased fee of $8800 (inc GST), having stood the 2021 season for a fee of $5000 (inc GST).

Numerian: a new European star for Neasham?

When Annabel Neasham sets a European import for a big race it is worth taking note.

Much like Neasham's presence in the training ranks, G2 The Q22 has only been around for two years, but the British-born trainer is making the $1.2 million race her own having landed the inaugural edition with Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in 2021 and on Saturday she added a second win in the Eagle Farm race to her ever-growing CV when Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) dominated proceedings in the Group 2.

Despite having won a Listed race when trained by Joseph O’Brien in Ireland, the Teme Valley-raced gelding has gone to another level since his arrival in Australia and he came into Saturday’s Group 2 contest having taken out the Listed Gosford Cup on May 7.

Always up at the front of proceedings with Tommy Berry in the saddle, the son of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) did not see another runner, staying on strongly all the way to the line, eventually beating Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) by 1l, while Yonkers (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) was another 0.75l back in third.

Numerian (Ire) winning the G2 The Q22 | Image courtesy of Michael McInally

Neasham said she had considered starting Numerian in the rescheduled G1 Doomben Cup at Eagle Farm on May 28.

“We nearly came via the Doomben Cup but I spoke to Richard Ryan, who very kindly sent me the horse on behalf of Teme Valley. He does a great job and obviously I was very excited when he sent him over here.

“The whole idea was to try and chase the good prizemoney and the good racing that we’ve got here.

“We hadn’t raced him sparingly at the start of the prep, so we decided to keep his legs fresh for this and I actually rang Richard earlier in the week and said: 'How do you think he’ll go on the good track? Because he’s got good form on a Good track the couple of times he’s tried it.'

“He said: ‘He’ll go well but I’m unsure if it’s going to be firm’. I said, ‘It’s going to be firm here compared to what he’s seen in Ireland’, but he relished it.

“It was a superb ride by Tommy. He took the race by the scruff of the neck.”

“It was a superb ride by Tommy (Berry). He took the race by the scruff of the neck.” - Annabel Neasham

Neasham said the G1 Epsom H. had been the original plan for the gelding when he first arrived in Australia, but an accident at trackwork forced connections to have a re-think.

“He actually had one start last prep and I was quite confident going into the Epsom with him and he got kicked at trackwork that week, so that’s why we only saw him once then,” said Neasham.

Annabel Neasham and Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of Michael McInally

“He’s run well every time this preparation and he’s just kept on improving. I think we can probably set our sights on something nice in the spring now.

“I’ll obviously talk to the connections and we’ll work out where we go with him now, but I think after the performance he put in here today he deserves to be set for something nice now.”

Bred by Whisperview Trading, Numerian is out of the unraced High Chaparral (Ire) mare Delicate Charm (Ire) and she has produced a further two winners. There are some famous names on the pedigree, including Kithanga (Ire) - the dam of G1 St Leger winner Milan (GB).

Numerian is one of 94 stakes winners for Holy Roman Emperor who stands at Coolmore Stud’s Castle Hyde based for a fee of €10,000 (AU$15,000).

So You Think adds to his tally

Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible may have mounted an unassailable lead in the race to be crowned Australia’s Champion Sire, but Coolmore’s So You Think (NZ) looks like he will continue to bang in more winners before the season is out. And the stallion once again added to this season’s tally on Saturday when the Chris Munce-trained Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}) took out the G2 Dane Ripper S. at Eagle Farm.

So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore Stud

The 4-year-old mare showed her class when she defeated Listed winner Najmaty and Salateen, who are incidentally both by I Am Invincible.

Palaisipan was last seen running fifth in a BM85 and Munce said she struggled to see out the strongly run mile on her most recent start.

“The other day she was probably found wanting a little bit in a strong-run mile. She missed a bit of work with the wet weather and everything, but she needed a good gallop and it really topped her off for today (Saturday),” said Munce.

“I thought when she drew well I really thought she was going to race well and be hard to beat.

“I thought when she (Palaisipan) drew well I really thought she was going to race well and be hard to beat." - Chris Munce

“I said to Luke after he came out, ‘Whatever you do don’t get hooked up on the fence’ so I was a bit worried at the 600 but he waited, the runs came and she finished off well.”

The mare was purchased by her trainer for $40,000 when she was offered as part of the 2020 Magic Millions Gooree Stud Reduction and she is out of unraced Fastnet Rock mare Touch Of Red who is a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner and now Twin Hills Stud-based sire Smart Missile.

Palaisipan when sold in 2020 as part of the Magic Millions Gooree Stud Reduction | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Palaisipan becomes the 42nd stakes winner for So You Think and the stallion has enjoyed a brilliant season having sired 12 stakes winners, headed by three Group 1 winners; Knights Order (Ire), Nimalee and Think It Over, who all won their Group 1s on the same day at Randwick in April.

The son of High Chaparral’s (Ire) brilliant season has led to a justified fee increase and he will stand the upcoming season for a fee of $93,500 (inc GST), having been offered at $77,000 (inc GST) last year.

Golden Eagle for Kiss Sum?

Trainer Tracey Bartley is not ruling out a crack at the $10 million Golden Eagle for Kiss Sum (Shamus Award) after he showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the G3 Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday and in doing so also provided his Rosemont Stud-based sire Shamus Award with his 19th stakes winner.

Last seen running second in the G3 Fred Best Classic, the 3-year-old gelding went one better on Saturday when he beat Battleton (Zoustar) by 2l, while Loch Eagle (Lonhro) was a further 0.2l away in third.

Kiss Sum winning the G3 Gunsynd Classic | Image courtesy of Michael McInally

“It’s been a very successful day for us and the staff at home,” said Bartley. “He’s a very nice horse, he’s got a great turn of foot on him and he relaxes.

“He was terribly unlucky his last two starts, he could have won both of them and been in the Stradbroke but, anyway he’s got something for the boys and we’ll have a drink tonight.

“A race like the Golden Eagle, might throw it out there because he’s a serious horse. He’s got bent legs, but he doesn’t know that and we look after him and I’m sure he’s going to look after us.

"He’s (Kiss Sum) got bent legs, but he doesn’t know that and we look after him and I’m sure he’s going to look after us." - Tracey Bartley

Bred and co-owned by Mr A McCulloch, Kiss Sum is the one of two winners out of five time-winning Mossman mare Stolen Kisses.

Off the back of another good, Shamus Award will stand for an increased fee of $88,000 (inc GST), a huge increase for the $33,000 (inc GST) he stood for in 2021.

Aquis’ Jukebox sires first stakes winner

Aquis Farm-based sire Jukebox celebrated his best day since he retired to the breeding barn when the Barry Lockwood-trained Johnny Rocker (Jukebox) produced an ultra impressive performance to win the Listed Oxlade S. at Eagle Farm.

Jukebox | Standing at Aquis Farm

Having won on debut at the Sunshine Coast, the colt was well-fancied to retain his unbeaten record and he didn’t let his supporters down when he defeated Calgary Stampede (Snitzel) by 1.5l. Thelwell (Bel Esprit) was another 0.8l away in third.

Bred and raced by J Stumer, the colt is out of three-time winner Margene (Magic Albert) and she is a three-quarter sister dual Group 1 winner Albert The Fat (Magic Albert).

Jukebox has sired two other winners and he will stand for a fee of $6600 (inc GST) in 2022.

Gai Waterhouse
Adrian Bott
Alligator Blood
Sheeza Belter
Gold Standard
Widden Stud
So You Think
Peter and Paul Snowden