By Jordan Gerrans
A close family connection with up-and-coming trainer Billy Healey may have just played a key role in reigning Queensland jockey premiership winner Jimmy Orman being booked for comeback star Alligator Blood.
The 24-year-old hoop partnered Alligator Blood during a recent Sunshine Coast jump-out and was again the pilot on Monday morning, this time on the Gold Coast, in a trial as the quality galloper ramped up his return.
In his first public outing for almost a year following back surgery, the Group 1 winner was fired up early on to lead in the trial and was not headed again over 1000 metres for Open Class gallopers.
The five-year-old gelding now heads towards the Listed Goldmarket over 1200 metres on the Gold Coast next Friday afternoon.
Orman, who rode 126 winners last season in the Sunshine State, has been booked for the Goldmarket assignment – his first sit on the popular galloper in a race.
Orman’s partner is emerging horseman Healey’s cousin, which might have helped his case to land the plum ride.
“Maybe the family connection helped,” Orman said with a smile between trials on Monday morning at Aquis Park.
“Billy and I have had a lot of luck together and we are teaming up for the first time with Alligator Blood in a good race and he will be very hard to beat.
“I have ridden for the owners a bit as well.”
Of all the hoops Healey has booked to ride his horses in his career, it is Orman who has delivered the most success – eight winners at just over a 20 per cent strike rate.
Alligator Blood’s faithful were on hand on Monday morning as the sun rose on the Gold Coast, donning their dark green hats in support of the returning galloper.
On the trial over 1000 metres, the 23-year-old Healey was happy what he viewed and pleased with the way the son of All Too Hard pulled up.
“He travelled well throughout and showed a bit of speed, he was sitting up there running along, I think they ran along throughout the trial in a fairly slick time,” Healey said.
“Jimmy gave him a bit of a shake up through the last bit and that was always the plan, I really wanted to use this really bring him along fitness wise as he is only having his second trial after 12 months off, we really need to screw him down and make sure he is ready to go Friday week.
“He recovered good, he had a good blow, he will improve of that, and we will probably take him somewhere or do something with him early next week, another good hit-out.
“All in all, I was happy and he has pulled up well.”