Jockey Blake Shinn says Alligator Blood only has to hold his form to be the one to beat in the All Star Mile at Moonee Valley.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper was taken to Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning for his final hit-out ahead of Saturday’s $5 million All Star Mile.
Alligator Blood resumed from a break to win the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on February 25 first-up and Shinn said the gelding has improved since that victory.
“He hasn’t put a foot wrong since his last run and he came here today for his last bit of work which was good,” Shinn said.
“To be honest, I think he only has to hold his form.
“Gai had him pretty well-tuned first-up and it’s been a matter of keeping him ticking over and he’s put in some nice maintenance gallops.
“His action is good, his mind is good, and he feels like he’s king of the castle at the moment.
“We’re ready for the big day on Saturday and looking forward to it.”
Alligator Blood has had nine starts since joining the Waterhouse and Bott stable, registering four Group 1 wins, three of which have been in Melbourne.
He won the Underwood Stakes at Sandown leading throughout while he has settled second when taking out the Champions Mile and the Futurity Stakes.
In winning the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm last June, Alligator Blood came from a midfield position which Shinn said showed the gelding’s versatility.
“He’s such a great horse to ride,” Shinn said.
“You can sit forward, while he won a Stradbroke sitting off midfield.
“He’s tough. He can do work.
“We’ll assess the race as it unfolds, but when you ride a horse like him, you’re pretty confident with what you’ve got and what race you can ride.”
