Alligator Blood wins six from seven starts in the Listed Pages Gold Edition Plate (Trackside Photography)
マーク・トエインが、見たのは、多彩で長い歴史を誇るオーストラリアの競馬の一瞬でしかありませんでしたが、あれから、オーストラリアの競馬は、国の主要産業となり、さらに人々の情熱を掻き立てる娯楽となっています。オーストラアリアの競馬は多くの詩人に謳われ、皇室がパトロンとなり、国家の伝統として高く評価をされ続けてきました。、
Allan Endresz puts a lot of thought into the naming of his horses. Take Alligator Blood for instance. He’s named after a poker term for someone who plays fearlessly. Dogged.
Well, on Saturday in the Listed Pages Gold Edition Plate over 1200m at Eagle Farm, the All Too Hard 3YO clearly smelled blood in the water as he absolutely dominated his rivals, racing away to score by over two lengths as a $1.55 favourite.
The victory took Alligator Blood’s tally to six wins from seven starts, with the only ‘blot’ on the copybook being his lip second to Super Seth in October’s Group One Caulfield Guineas.
“He (Alligator Blood) has always been a tenacious bugger, right from the word go. Real temper on him too,” says Endresz who purchased the now gelding for just $55,000 from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Saturday’s win takes Alligator Blood’s earnings to $765,250.
“I swear he would have won the Guineas if he’d seen the other horse coming.”
Far too good. Caulfield Guineas runnerup, Alligator Blood returns with a brilliant effort in Listed Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm. With 6 from 7, Alligator Blood is by @VineryStud’s All Too Hard & was sold for $55k at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions. #ItPaysToBuyAustralian pic.twitter.com/0QeN97OcQq
— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) December 14, 2019
Although the Caulfield Guineas might have eluded Alligator Blood, the flashy bay will be given his chance at the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on 11 January and, more than likely, the $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on 29 February.
“We’re really having a lot of fun with this horse … we’ve knocked back some big offers to sell him, but being a gelding there is no rush to retire him and, at this stage, the $5 million All Star Mile in March. Maybe even the Cox Plate could be on the agenda.”
As for the next cab off the rank, trainer, David Vandyke, will make a decision this week as to whether Alligator Blood next appears in the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate over 1400m on 28 December or heads straight to the Magic Millions Guineas.
Alligator Blood is raced by Albury, NSW based, Endresz, along with uncle, Jeff, and aunty, Robyn, under the Ezybonds No. 1 banner.
“They call us ‘Dumb & Dumber & Rob’ with Jeff and I alternating between dumb and dumber,” Endresz says with a laugh. “We had all raced horses in syndicates previously, but decided to form Ezybonds a little over three years ago. I’m a bit of a pedigree buff while Jeff is terrific with conformation.
“We started with three horses and now ended up with 22 of them! The initial trio all showed plenty of ability including Rancho Montoya – who we also bought off Gerry Harvey (Baramul Stud),” Endresz explains. “Rancho won a couple and looked like he could have been anything, but had feet problems and was retired.
“My wife, Joy, and kids are right into the equestrian side of things, so all of our ex-racehorses find good homes and old Rancho is showing quite a bit of ability in the dressage arena. It’s been an incredible couple of years.”
Alligator Blood is one of 12 stakes winners for Vinery Stud’s 4-time Group One winner, All Too Hard – a half brother to Black Caviar – and is from the unraced Encosta de Lago mare, Lake Superior.
A half sister to Sydney stakes winner, Cantonese, Lake Superior is out of the multiple Group One placed, Kylikwong, in turn a sister to Australian Horse of the Year, Typhoon Tracy.
And while Endresz is particularly excited about Alligator Blood’s forecast, all of Ezybonds’ eggs – apparently – are not just in the one basket.
“David (Vandyke) has another All Too Hard of ours … a 2YO called Crypto Tycoon,” Endresz reveals. “We bought him for $180,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and, like Alligator Blood, has a cross of Last Tycoon. A cross with Green Desert as well.
“David has a huge opinion of Crypto Tycoon and reckons he’s showing even more promise than Alligator Blood! He’s nominated for the Golden Slipper, as is a Zoustar colt with (Sunshine Coast trainer) Natalie McCall that we’re calling Allez Zou, which is French for ‘hurry up and let’s get going’.
“Nat also has a 2YO colt by Medaglia d’Oro from Group One winning sprinter, Rostova, who has been tipped out and won’t race until next spring, but ever since we bought the colt for just $25,000 at Easter this year, the half sister – Anaheed – has won the (Group Two) Percy Sykes, the (Group Three) Blue Sapphire and run third in the (Group One) Manikato.
“Naming him was a no brainer … we’ve called him Epic Deal.”
Quickly acknowledging that a lot of luck has fallen his way, Endresz also believes that surrounding Ezybonds with professionals is the key to success.
“It helps enormously when you have trainers like David (Vandyke) and Nat (McCall) but we also have one of the best in the business in John Robbins, who breaks in all our horses, while Ezybonds buys a few weanlings too and they grow out at Greg and Jo Griffin’s Lime Country Thoroughbreds.
“It’s a team effort.”
