Gai Waterhouse says Alligator Blood is like a fine cheddar after watching the galloper go through his paces in preparation for the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
The seven-year-old is now in his fourth preparation for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Waterhouse is amazed at how Alligator Blood keeps coming up, campaign after campaign.
“Not everything gets better with age, cheeses do and wines,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s a wonderful cheddar.
“He loves being in work. He loves racing. He’s big, he’s strong and touch wood, he’s sound.
“He’s a divine horse.”
Damien Oliver partnered Alligator Blood in his workout at Flemington on Tuesday morning ahead of the Group 1 weight-for-age contest over 1600m on Saturday.
With regular rider Tim Clark injured in a fall at Wyong on September 1, Oliver took over on Alligator Blood the following day.
Oliver retains the ride on Saturday ahead of Clark’s return in coming weeks.
Alligator Blood was not out to make time on Tuesday, but Waterhouse liked what she saw.
“He was very leisurely,” Waterhouse said.
“I said, ‘don’t leave the race on the track’. He worked with a horse that was a last start winner, Gold Bullion, and they work nicely over 1200 metres in a real stylish way.
“He’s a big gelding, Alligator Blood, and when he takes a stride, it’s a decent stride.”
The longer Alligator Blood is around the stable, the more Waterhouse and Bott learn about the horse, but she said he was a very easy horse to train.
“He’s very straight forward. It doesn’t take einstein to train him, he just gets on with the job,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s bigger all-round (than last year), he’s taller, he’s more robust.
“He’s a bit like a warhorse and is going to take a stack of beating in whatever he runs in from now on.”
The ever-confident Waterhouse has earmarked the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington on the final day of Melbourne Cup week as the gelding’s Grand Final, a race he won last year, but is also looking for another shot at Cox Plate glory.
“Why wouldn’t he have a fabulous chance in the Cox Plate,” Waterhouse said.
“He was probably in many ways a little unlucky last year, but he won’t be this year.”