Alligator Blood goes back-to-back in the G1 Underwood Stakes
Damien Oliver landed his first Group 1 win since announcing his impending retirement when the champion jockey partnered Alligator Blood to a second-straight win in the $750,000 Underwood Stakes.
Oliver made the most of one final ride aboard gritty on-pacer before regular rider Tim Clark returns from injury in the 1800-metre event at Caulfield.
The Underwood Stakes win – Oliver’s 129th at Group 1 level – came just seven days after Alligator Blood finished runner-up to Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes and Oliver is happy to make the most of every opportunity in what is his final Spring Carnival.
“You never know if that opportunity is going to come,” he said.
“It was unfortunate Tim’s accident and the fall, but he is on the road to recovery now and I was able to pick up this horse and I’m happy to just fill in for him while he’s making his way back.”
Oliver announced earlier this season that this spring would be his last with his final day of riding back in his native Western Australia in early December.
The win on Alligator Blood, who partnered to last year’s Underwood Stakes victory at Sandown by Clark, was Oliver’s third win in the race following earlier successes aboard Northerly (2001) and Russian Camelot (2020).
The seven-year-old son of All Too Hard, who started $3.60 boombet.com.au favourite and worked to the spot outside surprise leader Alenquer after 400m, saw off a challenge from Tuvalu ($7) to score by one length with Duais ($26) catching the eye late to finish just a half-neck away third.
Gai Waterhouse, who trains Alligator Blood in partnership with Adrian Bott, was thrilled that Oliver could play a part in the win of one of the country’s most popular horses.
“He’s not going to go out without a bang, is he?” Waterhouse said of Oliver. “He’ll be like Frankie Dettori. It was a fabulous win today.
“I think going up in distance there was less pressure on and he could get into that rhythm that he is very good at.
“It’s great that there are so many people here to see Alligator Blood and it’s great that he could deliver. It’s so exciting for everyone.”
Waterhouse said Alligator Blood was now a chance to progress the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7 with the Cox Plate (2040m) – in which he finished fifth last year – again the major spring target.
More Racing News
Queensland tilt among the options for Neasham 2YO
A belated shot at the Brisbane winter carnival is among the options for lightly raced filly Aemelius after she upstaged a handy field of two-year-olds to win the opening race at Randwick. Having just her second start, the Annabel Neasham-trained youngster, who started at $12 with betting sites, went back to last...
The Black Cloud descends on Randwick rivals
Having begun the day questioning how well The Black Cloud had come back this campaign, Joe Pride ended it by labelling her a stakes-class horse in the making. The Proven Thoroughbreds filly took her record to three wins from four starts with a rousing first-up victory in Saturday’s Taylor Construction Handicap (1000m)...
Scarlet Oak wins Roses to earn G1 Queensland Oaks favouritism
Chris Waller has labelled Scarlet Oak a “rising star” after the lightly raced filly staked her Group One Queensland Oaks claims with a classy win over stablemate Mare Of Mt Buller in the Doomben Roses. The filly has come a long way in a short time, making a winning debut in New Zealand in...
Sargent hoping Casual Connection can earn a Brisbane Cup berth
John Sargent is crossing his fingers that Casual Connection’s narrow victory at Randwick will give him a sufficient ratings boost to squeeze into the field for the Brisbane Cup. A renowned trainer of stayers, Sargent saddled up two runners in the two-mile race last year, Essential Sky who finished fifth and Outlandos ninth, and...
Le Ferrari leads home Lindsay Park quinella at Sandown
A return to Sandown has paid a dividend for Lindsay Park galloper Le Ferrari who led home a one-two finish for Ben, Will and J D Hayes. Le Ferrari over-ran stablemate Rheinberg to claim the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap (1400m) on Saturday. Ridden by Ben Allen, Le Ferrari ($10) overhauled Rheinberg ($7.50) in the final...
Bois D’Argent upsets rivals in G1 Doomben Cup
Trainer Annabel Neasham has landed a second victory in the Doomben Cup with a horse she said was well over the odds. Imported galloper Bois D’Argent held off a late bid from New Endeavour to follow the win of Zaaki for Neasham in 2021 in the Group 1 2000m weight-for-age contest. Ridden by Blake...
Trip test next for Lady In Pink
A return to Sandown has brought out the best in the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Lady In Pink who will now be stepped up in trip for a race at Flemington. Lady In Pink took out the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1600m) on Saturday and will head to Flemington for a 2000m...
Timely Sandown double for Dan O’Sullivan
The Ballarat stable of Dan O’Sullivan is enjoying a purple patch of form in the metropolitan area which has included a race-to-race double at Sandown. O’Sullivan welcomed back to the winner’s enclosure Way Up High in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Handicap (2400m) before Matriarch Rose took out the Stow Solutions Handicap (1600m) on Saturday. The...
Resolute reason for Waller filly to come up Roses
It carries Group Two status, but The Roses will have a distinct Group One feel for trainer Chris Waller as he prepares to saddle up the first Australian runner for John Stewart’s Resolute Racing. The American business tycoon created headlines earlier this year when he announced his intention to make an audacious...
Final roll of the dice for Classic prospects at Randwick
An 1800-metre three-year-old race at Randwick is set to have a bearing on the upcoming Classic races in Queensland with the majority of runners holding a nomination for either the Oaks or Derby. Seventeen horses, four of them emergencies, have been accepted for Saturday’s Wilson Asset Management Handicap and only Invincible...