Australia: Alligator Blood should be well positioned in Group 1 Cox Plate

The handy racing tactics of the seven-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood may be a vital asset in the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday night across American time zones.

Alligator Blood often sets the pace or runs as a stalker. Considering he has won his last two starts in Group 1 races, and that Moonee Valley has a stretch of just 190 yards, Alligator Blood could be well-positioned at a vital time in the $3.16 million Cox Plate, run at about 1 1/4 miles.

Last year, Alligator Blood was fifth by two lengths at 25-1 in the Cox Plate, but this year is in better form. Alligator Blood is rated as the 9-2 second choice in early betting behind the Hong Kong import Romantic Warrior at 2-1.

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Alligator Blood’s support stems from consecutive Group 1 wins at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne in the Underwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 23 and the Caulfield Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Oct. 14. Trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, Alligator Blood has won 15 of 33 starts.

Romantic Warrior, a winner of 10 of 15 starts, was fourth by slightly less than four lengths in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct. 7 in his first start since late May.

Romantic Warrior was the 7-5 favorite, and closed from sixth, but was no match for race winner Gold Trip, who is best known for winning the Melbourne Cup last November.

Gold Trip is part of the Cox Plate field in a prep for the Melbourne Cup at two miles on Nov. 7. Because of his closing style, Gold Trip was 7-1 in early betting for the Cox Plate. He was ninth in the race last year.

Victoria Road, winless in two starts since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland last November, is an 11-1 outsider for trainer Aidan O’Brien in the Cox Plate.

Earlier on the Moonee Valley program, Imperatiz will be an odds-on favorite to win the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at six furlongs.

A winner of 15 of 21 starts, Imperatiz won the Group 1 Moir Stakes at five furlongs at Moonee Valley on Sept. 29, closing from seventh. Imperatiz is unbeaten in three career starts at Moonee Valley.

The $1.26 million Manikato drew a field of seven, including Uncommon James, who was third in the Moir.

Randwick Preview

Raf Attack and Tom Kitten, the first two finishers in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Oct. 14, lead the betting for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Friday evening.

This time, bettors are forecasting a reverse in the order of finish. In the Gloaming, Raf Attack finished a neck in front of Tom Kitten, who had a trouble trip when he raced in traffic with a half-mile remaining.

The $1.26 million Spring Champion Stakes is run for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles and drew a field of 12.

Tom Kitten was 3-2 in early betting, with Raf Attack at 9-2.

Espiona, a four-time group stakes winner, will be favored to win the $1.26 million Invitation Stakes at seven furlongs for fillies and mares at Randwick two weeks after she finished seventh by 2 3/4 lengths in the $12.8 million Everest Stakes at six furlongs. The Everest Stakes is the world’s richest sprint.

Espiona, 11th in the 2022 Invitation, won the Group 2 Gold Pendant Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in her preceding start on Sept. 23.

Her competition in the Invitation includes Magic Time, who won the Group 3 Nivision Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Oct. 7 in her first start since April and her fourth win in six career starts.

Randwick has a 10-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern or 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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