A Trans Tasman match race is looming between Queensland’s best Alligator Blood and the boom Kiwi Catalyst in the Group 3 $160,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington today.
Alligator Blood, above, is the favourite for the C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Jockey Ryan Maloney was super impressed with Alligator Blood’s gallop on Tuesday morning and the David Vandyke trained three year old is the firming $2 favourite for the C S Hayes Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au.
“He worked with one of Tony McEvoy’s (on Tuesday). It was probably only a 0-70 horse, but as soon as I released the brake, (Alligator Blood) put three lengths on it straight away,” Maloney told The Courier-Mail.
“I just can’t believe how well he is, considering he’s only had nine days out and he’s never had a really good spell. He’s just a competitor and loves being a racehorse.”
The Clayton Clipperton trained Catalyst has a Group 1 win on the board with his victory in the 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in New Zealand but has drifted slightly in the betting to be the second pick in the betting at $2.70 on race morning.
Alligator Blood is yet to salute at Group 1 level but was a heartbreaking nose second to Super Seth in the Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival but was then then star of he Magic Millions Carnival at the Gold Coast in January with his dominant win in the $2m Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) .
South Australian three year old Dalasan is third in C S Hayes Stakes betting at $5.50 and the Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas trained colt is coming off a first up third to Super Seth in the Group 3 $160,000 Neds Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 1.
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