Alligator Blood ready to head to Melbourne

Top Queensland three-year-old Alligator Blood will head to Melbourne after a solid hit-out in an unofficial trial at the Sunshine Coast.

Alligator Blood went around with four other runners over 1000m on Sunday and raced three-deep before winning by a long neck from another talented three-year-old, Eric The Eel.

Ryan Maloney gave Alligator Blood an easy time in the final 150m and trainer David Vandyke was pleased with the work-out.

“It was ideal. Exactly what I wanted him to do. It was a hot and humid day and we did not want to sap him,” Vandyke said.

It was Alligator Blood’s first serious work since he won the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on January 11.

Vandyke gave him nine days off after an eventful Magic Millions day when Alligator Blood raced following an arduous trip from the Sunshine Coast complicated by an accident on the highway.

Alligator Blood will have his first Melbourne start this campaign in the Group Three C S Hayes Quality on February 15 before tackling the Group One Australian Guineas on February 29.

Alligator Blood’s final Melbourne race is likely to be the All-Star Mile on March 14.

“I am keen to get him to Melbourne so he can settle in and we are looking forward to meeting Super Seth again after he beat us in the Caulfield Guineas,” Vandyke said.

The Anthony Freedman-trained Super Seth, the only horse to beat Alligator Blood, made a winning return in Saturday’s Group Three Manfred Stakes at Caulfield.