By Glenn Davis
Talented Caloundra youngster Alligator Blood will put his Golden Slipper credentials on the line when the gelding attempts to maintain his unbeaten record at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Trainer David Vandyke nominated Alligator Blood and stablemate Iamican for the $125,000 Two-Year-Old Classic (1200m) but only accepted with one runner.
Both two-year-olds are paid up for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23.
“I’ve decided to run Iamican at Eagle Farm next week and if they ever meet, I hope it’s in a Group race somewhere,” Vandyke said.
Vandyke has a good opinion of Alligator Blood who was successful on debut in maiden company at the Sunshine Coast on December 30.
The son of All Too Hard, who cost $55,000 at the Magic Millions yearling sales, subsequently finished third to Iamican in an 850-metre barrier trial on his home track on January 15.
“I think Alligator Blood will be hard to beat again as he’s come along well since he won last month,” Vandyke said.
“I think Iamican will me more effective first-up at Eagle Farm and I didn’t want to see her swamped by Alligator Blood.
“If Alligator Blood wins he should earn enough prizemoney to get into the Golden Slipper.
“I’m not sure about his next run but the most important thing is how he recovers.”
Alligator Blood exceeded Vandyke’s expectations when he won on debut.
“I would have been happy if he just poked to the line,” he said.
“But I changed my assessment of him the way he stormed home to win.
“He’s paid up for the Golden Slipper but I feel he’ll be better suited in races like the Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes in Sydney.”
Meanwhile Vandyke’s stable will soon be boosted by the return of his star three-year-olds Baccarat Baby, Miss Quaintly and Asharani.
Baccarat Baby hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick in September and is set to trial next month ahead of a Sydney autumn campaign.
Asharani is still in pre-training for a Brisbane winter campaign after failing at Group 2 level at Caulfield in September while Miss Quaintly, a winner of two of her four starts, last raced at Doomben the same month when fourth to Stella Victoria.
Vandyke had high hopes Asharani and Miss Quaintly would measure to last year’s Victoria Oaks but their missions were aborted.
Racing Queensland webnews January 24