Australia: Alligator Blood set for Memsie Stakes start after ownership change

There has been more news off the track than starts this year in Australia for the multiple stakes winner Alligator Blood.

Alligator Blood was banned from racing in the states of New South Wales and Victoria in recent months because of bankruptcy proceedings involving owner Allan Endresz. On Monday, majority ownership of the 6-year-old Alligator Blood was transferred to Gerry Harvey, the horse’s breeder. Previous co-owners Jeff and Robyn Simpson retained an interest.

The transfer allows Alligator Blood to start as a leading contender, and possible favorite, in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Friday evening across American time zones.

Alligator Blood, trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, will start in the $690,700 Memsie Stakes on the strength of his second career Group 1 win in the $1.07 million Stradbroke Handicap at six furlongs at Eagle Farm in Brisbane in the state of Queensland in June.

A winner of 10 of 20 starts, Alligator Blood will be ridden for the first time by Damien Oliver and has a tough draw in post 1 in a deep field of 14 in the Memsie. The rail draw will challenge Oliver to find a clear path for Alligator Blood, who runs from off the pace.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Alligator Blood and Western Empire were 5-1 joint favorites as of Thursday, closely followed by Illation at 6-1, Cascadian and Tofane at 7-1, and I’m Thunderstruck at 8-1.

A case can be made for each of those runners

Cascadian and Tofane have not raced since they finished first and second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on April 16. The All Aged Stakes is one of the leading sprints in the early months of the year in Australia.

The Memsie will be a class test for Western Empire and Illation.

Western Empire, a 5-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, has won 7 of 13 starts, including six stakes, at tracks around Perth in Western Australia. This is first start on the tougher Melbourne circuit.

Illation will have his Group 1 debut in the Memsie, having won his first three starts in April and May. A 4-year-old colt, Illation won two minor stakes at seven furlongs and a mile at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide earlier this year.

I’m Thunderstruck is mired in a five-race losing streak since a victory in the $5.64 million Golden Eagle Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds last October.

I’m Thunderstruck was second in the $3.69 million All-Star Mile at Flemington Racecourse in March and second of 20 in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap at a mile at Randwick on April 2.

The Memsie Stakes will be I’m Thunderstruck’s first start since a sixth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick on April 9, a distance arguably beyond his best trip.

The Memsie Stakes is the eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 10:25 p.m. Eastern, or 7:25 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.